German observation tower Poperinge, West Flanders

The 13-metre-high observation tower in Poperinge, Belgium, was built during the Second World War by the German occupiers as a lookout post for Flugplatz Peselhoek, an airfield that was never put into use. 

In 1942, the site was converted into a vegetable garden to provide food supplies. During the Cold War, the Belgian army used the tower as an observation post for the Air Defence Service. 

The tower has now been completely refurbished and the restoration will be fully completed in May 2025. The monument is now open to the public as a lookout point and visitor attraction, with exhibitions about air stories from World War II. We are delighted to have been part of this special renovation project!!

Observation tower Poperinge Belgium1.png
  • Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
  • Public areas
German observation tower

Unique project in Horizon 2025

The aim of the project was to restore the tower and open it up to tourists as part of the Horizon 2025 programme (18th viewpoint), with support from Westtoer, the province of West Flanders, the European Interreg project Clim@TouVert and heritage funds.

Thanks to its repurposing, the tower now offers visitors:

  • An educational experience via information panels, audio, models and display walls in multiple languages. Stories such as plane crashes, bombings and V-1 platforms are highlighted.
  • Panoramic views of Poperinge, the hills of West Flanders, the forests of Westvleteren, the former airport area and the Galgebossen woods of Elverdinge. Twelve focus viewers point to these landmarks.

Our contribution to the observation tower

We were initially approached by architect Dries Vanhove to contribute to this special project. We supplied the metal steps and landings for the staircase construction. We supplied ArtDeck for the upper floors. 

Thanks to our expertise in safe and sustainable metal constructions, all these elements contribute to a reliable and accessible visitor experience, which is essential for a viewpoint that is used intensively, day in, day out. 

An open construction was chosen for the stairs and landings so that you can still see the historic monument clearly from every floor and always have a complete view. ArtDeck was chosen for the floors on the various levels. This is a metal press grating that is partially filled with EPDM granulate. This provides more comfort and also has a sound-absorbing effect.

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Our solutions

Our solutions are often part of a larger whole. That is why we like to work with the best partners and architects to make the project a great success. Not only good cooperation, but also the best well-thought-out solutions and products ensure a great end result. That is why we only use our own metal solutions with the right finish to suit your challenge.

ArtDeck®

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Pressed gratings

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Pressed Stair treads

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More about this project

We are delighted to have been able to play a role in this special project. We would be happy to tell you more about it. Would you like to know more about the process, the solutions used and other challenges of this project? Feel free to call or email us, and we will schedule an appointment!

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