Waterline II

Old country estates, impressive castles, historic country estates and landscaped gardens. That is what awaits you in the Vecht region, near the capital of Utrecht. That city received city rights in 1122 and has developed in recent centuries into one of the most vibrant cities in the Netherlands. Characteristic of Utrecht are the canals and the highest church tower in the Netherlands: the Domtoren is no less than 112.32 meters high. The many noble country houses on the Vecht show that life was good in the Golden Age. They are often surrounded by spacious estates and beautiful park gardens and the watercourses, which originate from the Vecht, result in a great diversity of greenery. The Vecht region also formed an important line of defense in Dutch history. The New Dutch Waterline was constructed in the eighteenth century and replaced the Dutch Waterline. The new line was 85 kilometers long and consisted of 46 forts and the fortified towns of Muiden, Weesp, Naarden, Gorinchem and Woudrichem. The line allowed the water to be regulated in certain areas and thus formed a good defense mechanism against enemies. Ships ran aground and soldiers on horseback or on foot could no longer cross the area. Massive forts were built in places where inundation was not possible, or where roads had been built. Because these forts were developed to optimally defend the environment, most fortifications are unique. The water line was used during the Franco-Prussian War and during the First and Second World Wars. Some of the impressive fortifications you pass along the route are part of the New Dutch Waterline, while other fortifications protected something else. For example, Bastion Sonnenborgh was built for the defense of Utrecht, together with three other bastions. The construction of the stronghold was started in 1544 and the stronghold was taken into use from 1552. The stronghold houses a public observatory with a museum for meteorology, astronomy and bastion history. The stronghold was last restored in 2001. There are four Lunettes on the Houtense Vlakte, which together formed one large defense structure for Utrecht. Fort Lunet 2 is part of that. Lunet 2 was built between 1822 and 1823. The municipality of Utrecht bought the fort in 1997 and restored it in 2009-2010. Fort Lunet 3 was built between 1822 and 1824. At the end of 1939, the Ministry of Defense decided to shift the line of defense and work on Fort Lunet 3 was halted. The hull therefore has no roof and no foundation plate. The restoration of the gun casemate has been completed. From 2011 there is a childcare and a scouting group in the fort. Fort Lunet 4 was built between 1819 and 1821. On the attack side of this fort, loopholes have been made in the walls and on both sides cannon casemates. In 1936 and 1939 a further concrete gun casemate and two concrete shelters were added in total. Lunet 4 is currently being used by a scouting group. The Work on the Waalse Wetering dates from 1875 and also belonged to the New Dutch Waterline. In the rampart is a barracks and a depot for artillery. The fort had room for 94 soldiers and 10 pieces of artillery. The fort guard's house is also nearby. Fort Honswijk, built between 1841 and 1848, was the first and largest tower fort in the New Dutch Waterline. The bombproof tower was surrounded by a moat. Fort Honswijk served as protection for the Lekaaccess; the Lekdijk and the river ridges inside the dike. The fort was improved between 1879 and 1888 with a bombproof gate, a warehouse, a casemate and four depots. The Lunet aan de Snel is a defense structure just north of Fort Honswijk. From 1871 the Defense Line of Honswijk was improved. The Lunet aan de Snel was also taken care of. In 1873, the rampart was reinforced and a bombproof building was built along the lunette. A new inundation channel was also dug for additional defence. The lunette on the fast is sporadically used by the Explosives Ordnance Disposal Service as a storage space for found explosives. Therefore, the site is not accessible. Werk aan de Korte Uitweg was built in 1877 to defend Fort Honswijk. The barracks were used as a residence for troops and as a storage facility. The wooden shed next to the barracks was mainly used as storage for artillery. There is a depot behind the barracks. The grounds and buildings are open on Sundays from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The Fort near Vechten was built from 1867 to 1870. Within the moat, the fort is 17 hectares in size. From 1950 to 1996, Fort Vechten was used by the defense for the storage of metal and rubber inner and outer tires. Since 1996, the fort has been owned by Staatsbosbeheer and is used for recreational purposes. It is possible to camp, parties are given and various outdoor events are organized. Guided tours are given in the summer period. Fort Voordorp is also part of the New Dutch Waterline. The fort was built between 1867 and 1871. After the restoration of the fort and the surrounding buildings, some of the buildings are used as event venues. The Fort on the Voordorpse Dijk was built between 1867 and 1871. The function of the fort was to protect the surrounding areas, for example the railway to Amersfoort and surrounding inundation facilities. In 1878 the fort was modified; a 38 meter long tunnel was built under the rampart to be able to move the guns. The barracks were enlarged and a bombproof ammunition storage facility was built. However, there was never an attack on this fort, so that the barracks have often remained unused. In 1960 it lost its function as a defense structure and was used for a few years for ammunition storage. After a restoration in 1998 and a renovation in 2000, the fort is used as an event location. You will not only see historic forts, but also come across nice windmills. Poldermolen Buitenweg was built in 1830. Its function was to drain the 288-hectare polder Buitenweg. More than 100 years after its construction, the seesaw mill was radically renovated. The wooden upper shaft was replaced by a cast iron upper shaft and the mill was given new rods. If you want to visit the mill, you can do so by appointment. Stellingmolen Rijn en Zon was built in 1912 and its function was to grind grain. The mill was equipped with self-collapsing, which almost killed him in 1949. When a storm came up, the millers couldn't get the mill under control, so the mill ran wild and only came to a stop when almost all the valves had blown away. Restoration work only took place in 1977, after the municipality had bought the mill. At the bottom of the mill, flour is still sold that has been ground in the mill itself.