Bunker BN 3, Lanaken

Bunker BN-3 is located in the sluice of Lanaken and is in fact a copy of bunker BN-10 in the closes of Neerharen.

A total of 12 bunkers are present in this sector. BN-2 through BN-11. Bunker BN-1 was never built. Bunkers BN-5, BN-6 and BN-8 were demolished several years ago. As a result, 8 bunkers remain in this sector. Bunker 9 had a secondary bunker 9 bis.

Unlike bunker BN-10, the gun openings have been bricked up and the steel hatches for the gun openings have also been removed. Nevertheless, the gun openings are still recognizable.

The bunker was accessible via a stairwell that could be entered at the top of the lock. There was an emergency exit on the lock side. This was coated with cement on the outside and therefore not visible, but on the inside it was reinforced with a few metal beams. Once removed, they could break through the cement coating and escape. That this escape route ended me a jump into the water of the shutter itself was an afterthought for the military. An escape route was provided as with all other bunkers.

At bunker BN-10, by the way, the emergency escape route is visible.

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Source

• Text: Ed Lewandowski
• Photos: Ed Lewandowski
• Les fortifications belges au 10 mai 1940, F. Vernier.