The ‘BB-bunker’ is located in Emmen
Translated by Thomas Ansell
The Stichting Archeologie en Monument in Emmen has put out a call for any authentic Cold War-era items that could form part of its refurbishment of a tactical bunker hidden in the city of Emmen. The ‘BB-Bunker’ sits on the Van Schaikweg. As reported by RTV Drenthe.
You probably wouldn’t notice when walking past the building site, and people living in the new homes that will be built there may not either, but a small grey building is the entrance of a remarkable piece of modern history. “What’s crazy is that almost no-one knows about this bunker, including people that live here. The bunker wasn’t a top-secret thing, but there was always a veil of secrecy around the place”, says Gerrie van der Veen, the head of the Stichting.
The intention is to restore the bunker to give a glimpse into what it would have looked like in an operational state, complete with furniture and paraphernalia of the time. The ‘BB-Bunker’ is regularly opened to the public on Open Monumentendag, or for school trips.
In the last few years the organisation has managed to get hold of some items, such as telephones for the ‘communications room’, but this isn’t quite enough to give a full picture of life at the time, says Van der Veen. “If people have any items like old uniforms, beds, or bikes used as mini generators we’d love to hear from them”, he says.
The foundation doesn’t have the benefit of a budget to work with, especially as it doesn’t apply for any subsidies, says Van der Veen. Those with any items of interest can get in contact via nvhermen@gmail.com
Image: a bunker built in Albania under the rule of the dictator Enver Hoxha. By Wikimedia user Avishai Techer. License here.
