Since a century and a half, the woods and heaths to the north of Arnhem have been the scene of a wide range of military activities. What once began as a training ground for field artillery transformed during the Second World War into one of the largest military airfields in occupied territory. The German Luftwaffe spared no effort or expense to prevent recognition from the air: the hundreds of buildings were designed like small farmhouses and barns that were carefully fitted into the existing landscape. Almost 200 German buildings have been preserved and have become, since 2007, one of the largest listed sites (rijksmonumenten) in the Netherlands.

During the Cold War, numerous new buildings were added to this German camouflage landscape, and large areas of the northern edge of Arnhem have remained inaccessible to the public to this day. In many places outside the fences of the Ministry of Defence, nevertheless, unsuspecting walkers come across countless traces of the military use of the landscape.

This book guides the reader along these traces that tell the extraordinary story of the military landscape that lies hidden silently in the woods of Arnhem. By means of unique historical photographs, GPS coordinates, and a map, readers who have become curious can embark on their own journey of discovery through the forbidden landscape.

About the author Hans Jungerius (Doetinchem, 1969) is an artist and explorer. Based on his interest in landscape and history, he organised projects and excursions in the Netherlands and abroad. In addition, Jungerius made two television series entitled Straal Voorbij (‘right past’ in Dutch), about places that we usually walk right past without noticing them. He also was the initiator of the repurposing of two former sites of the Ministry of Defence along the northern edge of Arnhem as a creative living and working area named Buitenplaats Koningsweg.

About OtherGuides OtherGuides is a series of books in which Hans Jungerius seduces readers to explore little-known regions, often with a history that is still young, with open-minded curiosity. In combination with photos and maps, the untold stories of the fragmentary traces in the landscape form an intriguing whole and bear witness to the unpredictable and constantly shifting role between humans and their surroundings. Many places are a crystal-clear reflection of the spirit of their times and often tell us more about ourselves than we would like.

OtherGuides lets readers experience what other travel literature prefers to remain silent about.