During World War II, the Allied and German air forces took tens of millions of spy photos. These photos were used to learn more about enemy positions and fortifications. The Belgian coast was photographed numerous times. Shortly after the war, aerial reconnaissance aircraft were also deployed to document war damage and provide the Allies with better maps.
The 80 photos on the Panorama Wall are unique and depict the Belgian coast from Het Zwin to De Panne. They were taken on August 4, 1945, from a low-flying American observation plane. It was the first summer after the war. The beaches are still littered with relics of the German Atlantic Wall fortifications, and the traces of war are visible everywhere. Notice not only the hundreds of bunkers, trenches, airfields, thousands of beach barriers, and the destruction in the villages and towns, but also the first beachgoers, beach huts, and sandcastles that stand in stark contrast. Take your time and discover what your favorite coastal town looked like on August 4, 1945.