Water as a Weapon
The New Dutch Water Line
The New Dutch Water Line was an 85-kilometer long military line of defence that protected the economically important western part of The Netherlands. It was an improvement over the Old Dutch Water Line and protected also the important city of Utrecht.
Inundation canal, Nieuwegein, 2014
The line used water as primary weapon. A shallow layer of water (about 40 to 60 centimetres) was deep enough to make the land difficult to pass by an enemy army, but the water level was not high enough to navigate by ship.
Inundation sluice, Nieuwegein, 2014
A complex system of flood canals, sluices and dikes was used to flood the land in case of an emergency.
Fort Uitermeer, 2009
Access points were areas of higher ground that could not be flooded. These weak points were strengthened with forts, batteries and roadblocks.
Fort Honswijk, 2010
Fort Honswijk, 2010
Troops and artillery were concentrated on the forts. The buildings were “bombproof” and protected the defenders against enemy fire.
Inundation area near Fort Ruigenhoek, Utrecht, 2009
Inundation sluice, Dalem, 2010
The line was mobilized three times but never saw any action. The only battle it had to fight was a continuous battle against obsolescence.
Covered road near Fort Honswijk, 2010
Road block, Muiden, 2009
Technological improvements in ammunition and artillery made the construction of the forts no longer “bombproof”. The forts had to be modernized continuously.
Reduit Fort Vechten, 2013
Fort Vechten, 2009
At the end of the nineteenth century the army changed strategy. Artillery and troops were no longer concentrated on the vulnerable forts, but were placed in the field.
Karnemelksloot, Naarden, 2013
Different types of concrete group shelters were built to protect the army against enemy fire.
Shelter near Fort Vechten, 2014
Shelter, Werk aan de Groeneweg, Schalkwijk, 2009
Shelters, Werk aan de Groeneweg, Schalkwijk, 2009
In 1940, the high command decided, just before the German invasion, to concentrate the main defense on the more eastern Grebbe Line. The New Dutch Water acted as a second line of defence, but because of the rapid capitulation of the Dutch army it didn’t see any action.
Poederoijen Battery, 2009
Road block near Fort Vuren, 2015
Shelters near Fort Everdingen, 2015
World War II proved that waterlines were no longer useful because of the use of airplanes. The New Dutch Water was lifted in 1951 as military line of defense.
Shelter, Brakel, 2014
Shelter, Werk aan de Groeneweg, Schalkwijk, 2014