Along the Grebbelinie to Amersfoort

South of Amersfoort, on the northern part of the Leusderheide, there are many war monuments hidden in the forest. They are monuments in memory of the victims of the Second World War, including the many Dutch people who were executed on the Leusderheide. The ride takes you around Leusden. The Grebbelinie dike is located on the east side of Leusden along the Valleikanaal. The Grebbe Line was a preliminary defense of the Dutch Water Line. The defense was based on inundation, where entire areas could be flooded. In 1745, the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands started constructing the Grebbe Line 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 removed and from 1951 the Grebbe Line no longer functioned as a defense structure. You cycle into Amersfoort, along the city ring that surrounds the picturesque city center. The medieval city center of Amersfoort, with its canal system, is beautifully preserved. The first city wall was built around 1300. A new wall was completed in 1451, which surrounded the city until the 19th century. That wall has been partly preserved. The city still has a number of historic city gates. The most special and famous is the Koppelpoort, both a land and water gate. There is also the Monnikendam water gate and Kamperbinnenpoort land gate.