The barracks were built between 1909 and 1911 on behalf of the Ministry of Colonies as Education School for soldiers and Petty Officers of the KNIL to a design by architect Jos Limburg in the style of rationalism, and is named after Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin who laid the first stone himself.

From 1912, space was made available as accommodation for the participants in a four-day walking event that Nijmegen visited.

From 1928 to 1938 the Flag Parade, the official opening of the Four Days Marches of Nijmegen, was held in the barracks courtyard and adjacent Molenveld.

van Heukelom in his design for the Hoofdadministratie Building III (De Inktpot) of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Utrecht 1918) and for G.C.

The 'Canteen for civilian personnel' belongs to the Prins Hendrikkazerne and was built in 1910 and in the same style of rationalism as the barracks and the Military Hospital.