Friesland did not host a major fortress (Festung), but a network of Verteidigungsbereiche (defense sectors), Stützpunkte (strongpoints), and Widerstandsnester (resistance nests) created an effective regional defense line along the coast and estuaries.

The route highlights Friesland’s Wadden Islands — Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, and Schiermonnikoog — which were heavily fortified with bunkers, coastal and anti-aircraft batteries, and observation posts, offering insights into the northern defensive network without the route crossing the islands themselves. On the land, key highlights along the route include the Afsluitdijk, the Kazemattenmuseum, Bunker Koehal, and the Kweldercentrum, each providing a vivid view of Friesland’s Atlantikwall history.

The route across the mainland leads you through beautiful nature and quintessential Dutch polder landscapes, inviting you to walk or cycle through the Frisian tidal landscape with its historic towns, villages, and traces of the Atlantikwall in Friesland.
If you prefer the dunes, a visit to the Wadden Islands—with all their Atlantikwall heritage—is highly recommended.