A view on what passed...
In 2023 we could again count on the support of many curious and loyal customers who paid us a visit. We received more than 2,000 local and international visitors, including 321 on Open monuments day alone. In addition to the regular opening hours our guides also provided around 70 guided tours this year, from local schools to distant travelers.
As N.P.O. we would of course like to thank all our volunteers and all visitors for making this possible together!
Wherever possible we try to support other projects about the history of Antwerp during the Second World War. In 2023 we were excited to be able to do this at the big exposition "City at war" by the MAS but especially the smaller but no less impressive private initiative of Filip Maes in Steenbergstraat. If you missed the latter, you can still view the beautiful photos that Serge Baugniet took there. Click here for our article with his photos.
Perhaps more of this in 2024? You will be sure to hear it here!
Also in 2023, with the help of our “pre-order” customers, we were also able to add T-shirts to the museum shop. At the top of this article you already saw a T-shirt that ended up in France with our SK1 family in Tourcoing, but at the beginning of 2024 a new distance record was set by Mr. Joof who was on vacation in frosty Gambia!
Did you do better or just wear it in a nice place or photo? Let us know!
... and what lies ahead!
Judging from the number of requests for tours that we have already received, we hope to not only match but preferably exceed the success of 2023.
In March we will be able to make our opening weekend a “Living Museum” edition again thanks to the re-enactors of n.p.o. Frontleven, more about this will follow soon. This year in June there will also be another edition of Bunker Day in Belgium which we will participate in. Visitors will have the opportunity to visit both large SK1 bunkers that day with their interesting contrast in preservation and resulting management.
2024 is also the 80th anniversary of our country's liberation, however relative it turned out to be for certain places. We are currently looking at whether and how we can perhaps contribute to the Liberation Day celebrations again. Certainly enough reasons to subscribe to our newsletter if you don't want to miss anything.
Thank you for your interest and best wishes!