A Family Was Renovating Their Townhome—and Found a Secret WWI Tunnel Underneath

A Family Was Renovating Their Townhome—and Found a Secret WWI Tunnel Underneath

They’ve been living above a German escape route for years.

Homeowner discovers hidden tunnel beneath townhouse

A homeowner unexpectedly discovered a hidden tunnel during renovations of their townhouse in Tielt, Belgium. During World War I, Tielt served as the headquarters of the German Fourth Army (AOK IV), which took over several townhouses on Nieuwstraat, near the city’s historic centre. Originally intended as a temporary arrangement, the occupation of Tielt became permanent as the war ground into a prolonged and stagnant trench conflict, lasting until…

A Belgian man discovered a hidden passageway under his house while renovating his home. Experts believe the tunnel may have been an escape route built during World War I. The structure was discovered in the town of Tielt, which served as the headquarters of the German army during the war. The occupying Germans had seized several residential buildings for military use. The building where the tunnel was discovered was used as a command center at t…