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One big and several micro visitor centres can be raised in the fortresses or farms nearby the line. The main visitor centre will be constructed at the fortress “Fort aan de Buurtsteeg”. The first thing to remind by the inner architecture and furnishing is that it has to be a lively visitor’s centre, with movies and maybe computer animations. It has also to give its visitors a nice overview over the fortress. Old disarmed weapons and furniture, catering, etc. should be in the centre or in the fortress.
Clear explanation on information or IT boards tells the visitor how the equipment was used. It is advisable to establish a flexible movie/ class/meeting room in the centre.
Guides available for the visitors of the centres would be perfect. They could tell colourful stories and give demonstrations of the use of the historical equipment in the centre. Volunteers can be trained as guides.
An I-pod “guide” can be introduced for all interesting objects in the centre, if the guide is not present. In fact, the I-pod can contain explanations of all objects and nature along the total Grebbelinie. It can contain even soldier songs of 1940 and the frightened war sounds, like an attack of a Stuka airplane on Dutch soldiers at the frontline.
Training and information materials have to be present in the centre, as it has to fulfil a role in the history lessons of the youth and the adults which have been living in peace for 65 years in The Netherlands.
The materials will depict the Second World War, but also materials of the defence against the French troops in 1792 and 1795 can be developed.
It will be good to make connections with the air fighter museum at Soesterberg, the military logistic museum and other military museums in the neighbourhood. Also the ancient job and handicraft museum at Barneveld can give advice and maybe unused materials like old phones.
At the entrance/reception there has to be (electronic) notice boards and a visitor’s book.
They have to be on a visible spot where they will get definitely noticed by the tourists.
Expecting also foreign tourists, information boards and leaflets have to be not only in Dutch, but also in English and German.
Hoeve De Beek at Woudenberg is the example of a micro museum. It has a little exposition of historical objects used at the Grebbelinie. The foundation “De Grebbelinie in het Vizier” is the promoter of this exposition. Interesting is that the farm was destroyed during war time to have a better shooting position, see www.Boerenstee.nl
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2.2.2. Living Like a Soldier In a Defence Line | 2.2.4. Guiding By Roundabout Boat And On Foot |
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