STAYING AT A WW2 BUNKER IN ROTTERDAM (hoek van holland, the netherlands)

In this episode, Michelle and Alex take advantage of the brand new RET (Rotterdam metro) subway line to Hoek van Holland Strand (Hook of Holland Beach) in Rotterdam, and stay in a very unique accommodation: a renovated WW2-era bunker along the Atlantic Wall.
Episode 50 · Filmed on April 3-4, 2023 · Hoek van Holland, the Netherlands
To book this renovated WW2 bunker, head to cocondo.nl.
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0:00 Introduction
0:38 Hoek van Holland Strand (metro extension)
2:04 Hoek van Holland boardwalk
2:33 There's a nude beach here?
2:43 Bunker hunting (and Troposcatter)
3:30 Here's an interesting bunker...
4:33 Dinner (Uluwatu)
5:28 Renovated bunker tour (Cocondo)
7:51 The Atlantic Wall and Bunker Day
9:12 Breakfast
9:42 Our impressions of Hoek van Holland
10:46 Wrap up
#netherlands #expatlife #rotterdam
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WHO IS BUNCHARTED?
We're Michelle and Alex, a travel-obsessed American couple living abroad in the Netherlands.
In 2020, we quit our jobs to travel the world, and... yeah, that didn't happen. So in 2022, we decided to make an even BIGGER change, packing up our lives (and our cats 🐈), moving from Austin, Texas, to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. Subscribe for new videos like this every week!

[@stichtingstelling3344]

Hi Michelle and Alex, thank you so much for sharing your adventure in our bunker and Hoek van Holland! For us a very good way to get a peak in to our guests experiences.

[@buncharted]

hey, thank you for hosting us! we had a great time :)

[@Diana2Chi]

As a Dutch woman I didn't know you can sleep in that bunker! Txs for this video.😀

[@alamunez]

Cool video! As a fellow immigrant to NL, I had no idea about Bunker Day, thanks! Also, bonus points for the smoked cheese at 9:21 🤩

[@JohnSmith-gu4cx]

We moved to the Hook from the UK for my dad's work in the late 60's. In the 70's we use to play in those bunkers, the Hook has several other locations. They were more accessable in those days and in better shape. Have moved away but live nearby because I work in the Hook. Loved your video, keep it up!

[@jongvyn]

Completely hooked, love the way you present this. Even for a Dutchman an eye-opener where you are staying overnight. Keep up the good work.

[@buncharted]

i can’t remember how we found it but it felt kind of like a secret… until we went to book and almost all of the dates coming up were already booked 😂

[@MarthynOlthof]

I didn’t know you could stay at one!!! My goodness, I’ve been (trail)running in that area (also Oostvoorne) for like 5 years now and I’ve seen many of these bunkers. But never did I know you could stay in one. That’s amazing!!

[@leojonkers3181]

Yes,this last track of the Metro was new for me! Crazy a metro go so close to the beach! I had my bicycle with me and drove to Rotterdam (east). Was a very strong wind from South West, so I was happy. I do not like the bunkers, Hoek van Holland you visit for fun. Ok, leave one bunker (nobody going to visit it) for history.

[@jacvanloon4209]

Goodmorning.I remember those days ass a kid in the 70's going with the train from Vlaardingen-West to Hoek van Holland playing up there in the bunkers all day with friends going in them with your torch en pukkel with food and drinks and explore.And in my mind there where no fences or gravity on it those days.Have a nice day. :)

[@t.vanoosterhout233]

Ben ik al zo vaak in Hoek van Holland geweest, heb ik die hotelbunker nog nooit gezien! De bunkers in het Staelduinse bos zijn ook indrukwekkend.

[@FrankHouwelingBoskoop]

Great video - as always. Such a great place stay. This one absolutely is going on my wishlist.

[@peterf1]

In Zeeland where there are quite a few bunkers, many were open to exploring. But even on a sunny day there were dreary, dark, dank and after a single minute I was ready to leave. That accommodation you found is altogether different. Great discovery! Those seaside restaurants with their massive patios overlooking the sea are just so wonderful.

[@buncharted]

you wouldn’t want to sleep in one of those bunkers? 😅

[@NecramoniumVideo]

My uncle used to tell stories how he and his friends, in the 70's, would try and get in the bunkers, and found all kind of old ww2 material. Luckily they closed them shut in the 80's before a kid got injured.

[@Leentvaar1964]

Great place Hoek van Holland. 😀😀

[@buncharted]

so beautiful

[@Leentvaar1964]

@@buncharted We played in the bunkers.

[@ericdenissen1229]

good video and thanx for the nice information

[@AbigaelPalijama]

O wow, thanks for sharing this. I really would want to stay here.

[@bloodyepicmuffintop]

loved the video

[@gerardflach2588]

I used to play at the bunkers as a kid. They weren’t always closed off

[@buncharted]

i wish we were able to get in them - but i'm glad bunker day exists for that now!

[@lilly6766]

The atlantic wall was/is from spain to the top of norway. ❤

[@buncharted]

ah yes, you are correct

[@chubbymoth5810]

Not quite,.. it stopped in near Vichi France afaik.

[@chillzzx4353]

it started at the Spanish/France border to Norway.. Vichy France did not reach the Atlantic.

[@vangestelwijnen]

"The things we do for thumbnails" made me laugh so hard!

[@buncharted]

the chair was literally covered in frost 😂😂😂

[@gmshowtruck]

Great vid again Michelle & Alex 👍 I used to go every year to a USA carshow, mostly on Fathersday, in HvH. There's also the Rock Art Museum also a great place to visit. Next trip for you both De Keukenhof ? 😉

[@buncharted]

yes! we will be there soon :)

[@gmshowtruck]

@@buncharted I thought so you would go there... it's now the right time to visit De Keukenhof 🙂

[@rolfagten857]

In Ijmuiden are real German WW2 Bunkers at Heerenduin!

[@bvanbiezen3008]

In IJmuiden is also a former U-boat bunker at the Westerduinweg.

[@jacques7799]

Awesome video! Metro is great (finally it took a few years more than planned for). Not too much food around for a food tour, I understand. HvH is still a bit underdeveloped, but that will change now the metro is there. Next time more food items I presume 🤣.If you go to the left on the beach to the real Hook (other side than where you went to the Nude beach) there are some really nice appartements for rent on the beach, did you see them? Probably not such a quiet night as in a bunker, but jumping out of your bed and directly with your toes in the sand...... Great bunker, did not know it was for rent.

[@buncharted]

i didn’t see them! but yeah, with the metro station opening… they would be VERY appealing!

[@jacques7799]

@@buncharted The only thing for over there is you will have neighbours, kids around etc. Not the solitary places that you look for (and are really great).

[@jandirkvanleeuwen]

You guys, please stay forever in the Netherlands ❤. Love your vids, you go more places than I have ever been, as a Hagenees 😅

[@buncharted]

❤️❤️❤️

[@davidc.w.2908]

I think that’s the same all around the world. I moved to the USA and have seen more places there than 95%+ of the Americans. I loved to see the boardwalk. That’s where my wife and I had our first burger together with her kids. Good memories ❤

[@janwestra8255]

That metro connection took 7 years!

[@bvanbiezen3008]

That bunker looks older than WW2, it looks more like a bunker from the time when Napoleon Bonaparte ruled. But it is true that many of the coastal forts and bunkers of Napoleon's time were used by Hitler in his construction of the Atlantic Wall. All bunkers built in WW2 are cast with concrete, while the bunkers and forts from the Napoleonic era are built with bricks.

[@buncharted]

they might have done the brick work later on the outside to make it look nicer

[@pel666]

Biggest question, How did you sleep Michelle???

[@buncharted]

great :)

[@collectioneur]

I would never go to the Netherlands for the food and I say that as a Dutchman, but somehow you always manage to get something nice to eat wherever you go...

[@chubbymoth5810]

Then you never ventured beyond the snack bar. There are plenty of good restaurants in and near the cities.

[@throughthewindowpane]

When were you there? I went to Hoek van Holland by metro last Friday and walked to the Pier of Scheveningen (and Den Haag). Would have been nice to spot you

[@buncharted]

a week ago today (this past sunday and monday)! that sounds like an awesome walk - how long did it take you?

[@davevanbeers6944]

Thanks! I still think you should try Chinese food, if you need a decent restaurant with awesome view, try china garden in Vlaardingen

[@michaelvandijk6490]

..btw, that 0% IPA it the 🐐

[@buncharted]

i just had another one yesterday - it’s so good!

[@ruudbremer]

no bunkbeds in the bunker?

[@buncharted]

thankfully no 😅

[@stenhomeyt4709]

You can sleep in bunkers in the nederlands en wen I was 6 I slep in wone

[@stenhomeyt4709]

I live In the nederlands en I speak it

[@stenhomeyt4709]

En my big brother has a holl kolekson of ww2 stuf

[@chillzzx4353]

you know Hoek van Holland isn't near Rotterdam, but * is * Rotterdam ;) right?

[@buncharted]

fixed the title 😉

[@wepes7291]

Lekker belangrijk voor deze mensen!

[@gerrygrouwe70]

Are you still sleep in your house 😂😂😂

[@gerrygrouwe70]

Michelle i think that this year will get a full body tan so no bikini stryps 😅😅😅

[@patrickcornelius4783]

I like your video's but the moustache... why! It's so '70's

[@buncharted]

thank you for the compliment

[@remko]

@@buncharted well done. i see you’re getting used to the Dutch ‘directness’

[@jaydenhughes]

the 70s are back n fashion don’t u know that?