World Heritage Photos

Dutch Waterlines – Water as an ally

The Dutch Water Defence Lines form a 200-kilometre military network constructed to protect the economic and administrative heartland of the Netherlands. The UNESCO World Heritage Site combines the Defence Line of Amsterdam and the New Dutch Water Line, which stretches from Muiden to the Biesbosch wetlands. It features an ingenious network of fortresses, natural bodies of water, waterworks, canals and polders that could be flooded when the country was approached by an enemy. Also included are Werk IV near Bussum to protect Naarden, the Tiel Inundation Canal and Fort Pannerden, about 60 kilometres from the main defence line. 

The Old Dutch Water Line was in use from 1629 to 1815. After 1815, it was modified and was renamed the New Dutch Water Line. It was extended to include Utrecht and existing forts were fitted with bombproof bunkers. The New Dutch Water Line is 85 kilometres long and three to five kilometres wide; it remained in use until Germany invaded the Netherlands in 1940.

Fort bij Vechten is the largest and best-preserved fort of the New Dutch Water Line. It was built between 1867 and 1870 to defend Utrecht, which was previously situated outside the defensive lines. The fort is situated on an ancient Roman frontier, the Roman Limes along the Rhine. Throughout its history, the fort was placed in a state of alert three times. Scarcely had it been completed when it was put on fully alert during the Franco-Prussian War; it was fully mobilised during both the First and Second World Wars. The fort never saw combat. The advent of aircraft rendered the waterlines obsolete. Fort bij Vechten now houses the Waterline Museum.

The New Dutch Water Line became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. Together with the Defence Line of Amsterdam, it forms the World Heritage Site: Dutch Water Defence Lines.

www.werelderfgoedfotos.nl   © Copyright   World Heritage Photos   classic car road trip

➔

➔

1. 

   New Dutch Water Line: Since 2015, the Fort bij Vechten houses the National Waterline Museum: The museum tells the history of the 300-year old Dutch Water Line. One of the highlights inside the huge fortress is a 54 metres long open-air model of the New Dutch Water Line, with the help of tiny sluice gates, the concrete scale model can be inundated by visitors. The New Dutch Water Line is part of the UNESCO World Heritage: Dutch Water Defence Lines.

2. 

   New Dutch Water Line - National Waterline Museum at Fort bij Vechten: The fortress consists of shellproof bunkers and military barracks, flank batteries and guard buildings. The invention of the aeroplane and long range weapons rendered the New Dutch Water Line obsolete. The New Dutch Water Line is now the largest national monument of the Netherlands.

3. 

   New Dutch Water Line - National Waterline Museum at Fort bij Vechten: A thick layer of earth was used to reinforce and camouflage Fort bij Vechten. The fort is completely surrounded by a broad moat filled with water. Since 2015, visitors can enter the fort via a bridge across the moat.

4. 

   Dutch Water Defence Lines: The original concrete bunkers of Fort bij Vechten are hidden under a layer of earth and overgrown with grass and other vegetation, a perfect camouflage. Fort bij Vechten is one of the forts of the New Dutch Water Line. The Dutch Water Line was constructed in the 17th century to protect the western part of the Netherlands from invading French troops.

5. 

   Dutch Water Defence Lines - National Waterline Museum at Fort bij Vechten: Fort bij Vechten is one of the largest and most beautiful fortresses of the New Dutch Water Line. The fortress was constructed in the period 1867-1870, it consists of sixteen brick buildings. More than 16 million bricks were used in the construction of the fort.

6. 

   Dutch Water Defence Lines - New Dutch Water Line: Due to its isolated location, Fort bij Vechten is host to a large number of rare and endangered plants and animal species.

7. 

   Dutch Water Defence Lines: Fort bij Vechten is one of the forts of the New Dutch Water Line, the water defence line consists of 46 forts and six fortified towns, surrounded by waterworks, canals and natural water bodies, and polder areas that could be inundated, temporary flooding, to turn the western provinces into an island when the Netherlands was approached by an enemy.

8. 

   Dutch Water Defence Lines: The National Waterline Museum at Fort bij Vechten, part of the New Dutch Water Line. Since 2015, the fort is a museum and recreation area, at the left hand side the newly created entrance for visitors. The 1,5 metres wide entrance pathway cuts through the six metres high defence mounds.