Sint-Agatha-Rode (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Bunker LW 11 in Sint-Agatha-Rode has been restored and opened after 85 years. Funded by provincial heritage subsidies, officials, including Bart Nevens and Kamil Muldermans, highlight its historical and educational value.
As VRT News reported, Bunker LW 11 in Sint-Agatha-Rode, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, has been uncovered and made accessible after 85 years. The structure is part of Belgium’s World War II defence line. It had been hidden under soil and overgrown plants for decades. Despite this, the bunker remained well-preserved.
What makes Bunker LW 11 in Sint-Agatha-Rode historic after 85 years?
Restoration work began in 2024 and was carried out by the municipality of Huldenberg in cooperation with the Dijleland Regional Landscape. Debris, invasive plants, and soil were removed. A hedge was planted, and existing willow trees were pruned to improve visibility.
The bunker’s exterior was renovated according to Flemish Brabant Monument Watch rules to maintain historical authenticity. Today also serves as a rest stop for hikers and cyclists and offers views of the Dijle Valley.
“The bunker is actually a kind of mini-museum,”
says Frederik Francois, a local historian.
“The bunker will soon be permanently open. Inside, you’ll learn more about the people who manned it, who were British soldiers. Five British soldiers also died nearby.”
Provincial heritage subsidies have made it possible to restore bunker LW 11 in Sint-Agatha-Rode. Bart Nevens, Provincial Executive Member for N-VA, said the funding helps bring small but valuable heritage sites back to life each year.
He added that the work preserves both the stones and the stories of the region. Nevens emphasised passing this history to future generations, noting that many people did not live to see the Second World War.
When the doors of bunker LW 11 were opened, items from May 1940 were still inside. The interior has been furnished with replicas and information boards to guide visitors. The Huldenberg Historical Society helped provide historical context and create the displays. Today, the bunker serves as a preserved wartime site and an educational stop, offering hikers, cyclists, and visitors insight into the history of the area and the Second World War.
“By opening up the bunker in Sint-Agatha-Rode, we are literally unlocking a piece of history,”
says Alderman Kamil Muldermans (Open VLD).
“We also want to gradually make other bunkers and war relics in Huldenberg accessible.”
The KW Line was a Belgian defensive line built in 1939 to protect the country from a possible German invasion during World War II. Its name comes from Koningshooikt and Waver, the start and end points of the line. The defensive system included more than 400 bunkers, reinforced concrete positions, anti-tank ditches, and steel obstacles.
It was designed to slow down enemy forces and protect strategic areas. The line stretched across central Belgium in a mostly straight path from Koningshooikt, near Lier, to Waver, close to Huldenberg.
Some bunkers and other parts of the KW Line can still be seen today, but most have been demolished or buried. The surviving structures are often partially preserved or restored. Officials say they provide a clear view of Belgium’s defensive efforts in the early days of World War II.
