In the dune landscape around Wijk aan Zee some bunkers still remind of the Atlantikwall, built by the German occupying forces between 1940 and 1944. These coastal defensive works (the so-called Festung IJmuiden), were aimed at protecting the harbour of IJmuiden and the Blast furnace company (Hoogovens) against attacks of the Allied forces. The whole of these fortifications was protected by a circle of minefields, antitank ditches and road blocks up to a couple of kilometres into the hinterland. In November 1942 it was decided to evacuate all residents of Wijk aan Zee to the interior. Many inhabitants moved to Beverwijk and Velsen. On 12 August 1943 the residents were allowed to return at their own risk, but on 15 October 1943 the village was again evacuated.

On the range of dunes behind hotel de Wijk, a radar bunker was constructed by the Germans. This was aimed at intercepting hostile ships and aircrafts at an early stage. These radar screens were twenty meters high. That is why the screens were attached firmly and deep into the concrete of the bunker. These radar installations were called "Mammutstanden". In the Netherlands there were only four locations that still had such a "Mammutstand": Den Helder, Oostkapelle, The Hague and Wijk aan Zee.

In the summer of 1944, when landings of the Allied forces were approaching, Velsen and parts of Beverwijk were also evacuated. The residents of Wijk aan Zee had to go and live even further away from their village, mostly in Haarlem or Amsterdam. After the liberation they returned to their unoccupied homes as of 8 June 1945. The remaining German troops were held prisoners by allied troops and Dutch civil soldiers and were temporarily quartered in still unoccupied dwelling houses. Before they had to return to Germany, they were deployed to clear the barricades and minefields. The last took place in a cruel way; the soldiers had to de-mine an area completely and then had to walk over it arm in arm and in wide lines. In this process some German soldiers have died.
Moreover, the de-mining process did not proceed fast enough in the opinion all villagers. In this way it could happen that the German soldiers were searching a dune area for a long time looking for the mines, of which they were sure that had been placed there. The civil population had however removed them before with their own hands, to be able to go and poach there again soon.

When the village was considered safe again, the German soldiers had to return by foot to Germany via the Afsluitdijk.

Most residents returned after the occupation. Most dwelling houses were undamaged, some buildings had been damaged during bombings (like for example the small church at the Weiland) or during the use as a home for troops of German soldiers.

Still in the sixties remaining weaponry was dismantled and bunkers were closed and blown up. As long as the bunkers were still accessible they made a favourite playground for the youth of the village.

Look here for a Photobook of the bunkers