Prins Hendrik Barracks, Rijksmonument op Dommer van Poldersveldtweg 112, Nijmegen
Prins Hendrik Barracks is a military complex in Nijmegen built between 1909 and 1911. The main building features rationalist design with clean lines, red brick walls, and a distinctive domed tower rising over 110 feet (35 meters) high with a symmetrical entrance archway.
The barracks were founded in 1909 to train soldiers of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army and named after Duke Henry's foundation stone ceremony. After World War II, its role shifted dramatically when the KNIL was officially disbanded in 1950, followed by use as an Air Force facility and later as refugee housing from the 1990s onward.
The barracks are named after Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, who laid the foundation stone in 1909. The complex today serves as a place where visitors can reflect on Nijmegen's military past and its connection to Dutch armed forces history and colonial heritage.
The site is accessible on foot and offers space for quietly exploring the various building structures and the main tower. Visitors should note that some areas may still be in use and access could be limited depending on the current status of the complex.
From 1912 onward, the barracks served as a key venue for Nijmegen's famous Four Days Marches event and functioned for many years as the start and finish point for thousands of walkers. This celebrated annual tradition connected the site's military heritage with a vibrant local custom.
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