Along the Grebbelinie to Amersfoort

South of Amersfoort, on the northern part of the Leusderheide, many war memorials are hidden in the forest. They are monuments in memory of the victims of the Second World War, including the many Dutch people who were shot on the Leusderheide. The ride takes you around Leusden. On the east side of Leusden lies the Grebbelinie dike along the Valleikanaal. The Grebbelinie was an advance defense of the Dutch Water Line. The defense was based on inundation, whereby entire areas could be flooded. In 1745, the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands started the construction of the Grebbelinie to protect Holland against enemy invasions. The line was maintained until the end of the 19th century. In 1926, a large part of the fortifications were dismantled and from 1951 the Grebbelinie no longer functioned as a defense structure. You cycle into Amersfoort, over the city ring that surrounds the picturesque city centre. The medieval city centre of Amersfoort, with its canal system, has been beautifully preserved. The first city wall was built around 1300. In 1451, a new wall was completed, which walled the city until the 19th century. That wall has been partly preserved. The city still has a number of historical city gates. The most special and best-known is the Koppelpoort, both a land and water gate. There are also the water gate Monnikendam and land gate Kamperbinnenpoort.