An urban explorer recently delved into an expansive 11,000-acre settlement that emerged rapidly during the Cold War era, expressing awe at its immense size. Colin Hodson, known for his adventures on the Bearded Explorer YouTube channel, shared his astonishment at the sheer scale of the Rheindahlen settlement in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. Despite having visited before, he had not fully grasped its vastness.

During his exploration, Colin uncovered a hidden underground shelter with a detailed map of the entire site, calling it a “map room.” Using the map as a guide, he located various key areas such as the town’s shopping district, church, and a cinema that was targeted in a bombing attempt in 1973.

Rheindalen, serving as a major British military base in Germany and for the NATO Northern Army Group during the Cold War, was home to around 12,000 personnel and their families. The town boasted numerous amenities like accommodation, sports facilities, a swimming pool, and recreational areas.

Despite past proposals to repurpose the site, including plans for housing asylum-seekers, the town remains deserted, reclaimed by nature. Colin noted the town’s abandoned state and described how wildlife now roams freely in the once-bustling community.

Exploring further, Colin found remnants of the past in the Globe Cinema, with seats removed and film posters scattered on the floor. English-language materials indicated the town’s former residents, and a visit to the overgrown police station revealed a large detention cell, now home to only a deceased rodent.