The underground bunker of Seyss-Inquart: A hidden piece of history in Apeldoorn

The events take place at a time when the occupation of the Netherlands by Nazi Germany reached its peak. Seyss-Inquart, along with his general Friedrich Wimmer, decided to build an underground command bunker in the garden of a confiscated villa at Loolaan 554. The bunker, a masterpiece of reinforced concrete, measured 35 meters in length and 13.25 meters in width. This heavily fortified complex housed not only offices for high-ranking Nazi officials but also amenities such as a bedroom, a bathroom with a shower, and even a telephone exchange.

The bunker served not only as Seyss-Inquart's personal refuge but also as a strategic hub for top figures of the Ministry of Justice. At that time, Seyss-Inquart moved with his family to another confiscated villa on Parkstraat in Velp. However, the tumultuous times of Dolle Dinsdag forced him to further relocate to Landgoed Spelderholt in Beekbergen, where the environment was relatively quieter amidst increasing wartime activities.

The bunker became a symbolic bastion of the Nazi leaders, but its fate took an unexpected turn after the capitulation of Nazi Germany. In the haste of the flight, Seyss-Inquart left the bunker behind with all its contents, resulting in a fascinating discovery. Upon the liberation of Apeldoorn, the bunker was found to be completely intact, like a freeze-frame of time and a silent witness to the dramatic events that unfolded there.

While the bunker is not publicly accessible, modern technology has opened a virtual window to this historical monument. At the CODA Central Library, visitors can embark on a virtual journey through the bunker on a digital multitouch table. The 3D application offers a unique opportunity to explore the rooms that were once the scene of strategic decision-making by the Nazi leadership.