Noor­der­park Rui­gen­hoek pain­ted bun­ker

Noorderpark Ruigenhoek contains a unique structure: a painted bunker from 1940 depicting how soldiers would have used this group shelter during wartime. The soldiers in the painting are packed shoulder to shoulder for protection.

Group shelters
There are more than 600 concrete group shelters (type P) scattered across the landscape between Muiden and Biesbosch National Park. Built between 1939 and 1940, each shelter was designed to house up to 12 Dutch soldiers during a German invasion. However, they were never used for this purpose.

Paint doctor
The Province of Utrecht commissioned local artist Robert-Jan Brink — ‘the paint doctor’ — to paint the bunker. Robert-Jan is known for his murals of Utrecht landmarks like the Dom Tower and the Red Bridge. His artwork on the shelter brings history to life for those visiting the Dutch Water Defence Lines, an inspiration for current and future generations.