Bunker K-16 Border Defence Zuid-Willemsvaart

Bunker K-16 Border Defence Zuid-Willemsvaart

Built in 1937 by Fumière Baudouin in Visé.
Of the 11 originally built thin-walled anti-tank bunkers with cannon, so-called K-bunkers, 2 can still be visited. These bunkers were built from 1937 at the bridges over the canal. They were equipped with a 47mm field gun, so that the guns could be placed both indoors and outdoors. There were also at least 2 Cointets, Belgian ports, present per K-bunker. With these steel racks on rollers, the bridges were blocked in the event of an alarm. This bunker and bridge surveillance fell under the deployment of the Cie. Grenswielwielers Maaseik (bunkers 32 to 47).

The bunker is part of the forward position that was built during the interbellum along the Limburg canals. This Grensstelling consists of the Zuid-Willemsvaart, the Bocholt-Herentals canal section and the Briegden-Neerharen connecting canal. This starts at Mol, after which it goes east along Lommel, Neerpelt via Bocholt, Bree, Neeroeteren, Maasmechelen to Lanaken west of Maastricht. There were a total of 72 bunkers for defence; of which 44 flanking bank bunkers, 11 gun bunkers, 7 heavy bunkers and 10 machine gun bunkers.

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Source

• Text: Geert-Jan van Glabbeek
• Photos: Joost Verheijden