A three-day international conference on the future of the Atlantic Wall came to a close today in Vlissingen, the Netherlands. The Atlantic Wall was a defensive line constructed by the Nazi regime during the Second World War along the western coast of the European continent.
Dishoek bunker complex
The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) organised the conference, bringing together representatives from the seven countries through which the Atlantic Wall runs, for the first time in many years. The meeting took place at a location where fierce fighting took place around the Atlantic Wall during the Second World War, as part of the Battle of the Scheldt in November 1944.
The aim is to establish an international network to support the countries in addressing issues relating to the preservation of the remains of the defensive line, including how to deal with paintings and drawings found inside bunkers.
Letter of Intent
Although the remains of the Atlantic Wall are spread across seven different countries, they are part of a single, interconnected military system that was built during a shared and traumatic period in European history. Their preservation and management raise many similar questions. However, policies and approaches differ from country to country. During the conference, participants explored ways to better align these policies and strengthen European cooperation.
Image: Wesley Versteeg
Presentation of the Letter of Intent to representatives of the seven countries through which the Atlantic Wall runs.
The conference concluded with the presentation of a joint Letter of Intent, setting out agreements for future cooperation. Government authorities and heritage organisations from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway and the Channel Islands have pledged to continue working together on the preservation and management of the Atlantic Wall.
The Letter of Intent provides an opportunity to acknowledge this shared responsibility, learn from one another's experiences and strengthen cross-border cooperation. By joining forces, the countries can work towards a more coordinated and sustainable approach to the preservation, management and interpretation of the Atlantic Wall, and to communicating its significance to present and future generations.
Objectives
The countries aim to address shared challenges, including coastal changes, climate change, nature conservation, tourism and spatial planning – all of which affect the long-term survival of the Atlantic Wall's remains.
Another key objective is to improve public awareness, interpretation and accessibility across national borders, based on the conviction that freedom should never be taken for granted.
Conference participants during an excursion to the Dishoek bunker complex