Zeebrugge (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Knapen Barracks bunkers in Zeebrugge are renovated with lighting, asbestos removal, and secure doors. 2 of the 7 host the Zeebrugge Festival Committee and CAW Noord-West-Vlaanderen.
As VRT News reported, the bunkers at the former Knapen Barracks in Zeebrugge, part of Bruges, in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, are being renovated. The site will be opened as a coastal park in the future.
What are Zeebrugge Associations using the Knapen Barracks Bunkers for?
2 of the 5 bunkers already have new occupants.
“This opportunity came at just the right time for us, because our current garage has to make way for the construction of the new sea lock,”
says Joris Prat of the Zeebrugge Festival Committee.
One of the renovated bunkers at the former Knapen Barracks in Zeebrugge is now used for storage by local organisations. The bunker has enough space for tents, tables, chairs, and other equipment.
Larger items, such as trailers, can also fit, though they must sometimes be moved on their side through the doorway. Users say the small inconvenience is worth the convenience of the space. The facility is free to use, letting organisations focus on organising events rather than paying rent.
A second bunker is in use by CAW Noord-West-Vlaanderen. It serves as a storage space for sports equipment and other items used in community programs.
“We’re making the bunkers available indefinitely and without compensation,”
says Alderman Pieter Marchal (CD8V).
“We have, however, included one special condition in the loan agreement. In return, we ask that associations using them organise at least one event on the site annually.”
“We’re currently considering an open-air cinema,”
says Joris Prat of the Zeebrugge Festival Committee.
“The World Cup this summer also opens up possibilities.”
The Knapen Barracks site in Zeebrugge has a long military history. The bunkers were built during World War I by German forces as part of coastal defences. In 2018, the city of Bruges purchased the 8-hectare site. Renovation work began on 3 May 2023, including demolishing old buildings and removing over 20,000 m² of hard surfaces to make way for Kustpark Knapen, a public coastal park.
