Slaperdijk and Roode Haan

In the 16th century, there was constant flooding in the Gelderse Vallei because the dike of the Rhine near Wageningen often collapsed. As a result, the river water penetrated far into the area of the Bishop of Utrecht. The Geldersen did enforce the Rijndijk in 1595, but that was not enough. After the umpteenth flood in 1650, the States of Utrecht found it difficult and took the shovel themselves. To protect their own area from the water, the Slaperdijk was built. The name says it all: the dike only serves when the water comes up unexpectedly. Unfortunately for the inhabitants of Veenendaal, the dike was built on the wrong (west) side of the village. All drainage in the direction of the Zuiderzee was obstructed and to make matters worse, Veenendaal was hit by the largest flood in its history in 1855, when the Grebbedijk once again broke through. Only a few high-altitude parts remained dry. Eleven people drowned.

Between Amerongen and Renswoude, defenses of the Grebbelinie are hidden under the greenery. In the past, the works were referred to by the names as the Post aan de Roode Haan and the Werk aan de(n) Roode(n) Haan. The name Roode Haan refers to a - now disappeared - inn. The innkeeper recalled the fires that raged when Spanish troops stayed in Veenendaal and more than 100 houses went up in flames.

The current works on the Roode Haan were realized in 1785-1786, when an attack via the Emminkhuizerberg still had to be taken into account. That attack could come from Joseph II's Austria, which caused tensions in Europe. The defensive structure that was supposed to close the entrance to the west at this position actually consists of the fortified Line dike in a consolidated form. Thanks to this form, it became possible to build gun emplacements for guns. The works were supplemented by half a Lunet on the Renswoud side of the water, where artillery could also be brought into position.

in the course of time the Work on the Red Rooster was adapted several times. The lock was also renewed in 1847. A few years later, in 1866, it was made possible to make inundations behind the line dike.

When the Grebbelinie started to serve as a Valley Count during the mobilization days, the Werk bij de Roode Haan was provided with concrete casemates. These were mainly cast steel casemates that were dismantled by the occupying forces in 1941. Here and there the concrete remains are still in the site. During the May days of 1940, there was also anti-aircraft artillery at the lock that seemed to place hits on an overflying aircraft. In any case, the Junker crashed not far from the Slaperdijk.

The Lunet north of the lock is still recognizable in the terrain with some difficulty. A casemate is still hidden in the earthen rampart; a so-called Porcupine for a heavy machine gun. The shed of the Water Board in the Lunet still houses the bulkhead beams, which are supposed to stop the flooding when the Grebbedijk breaks through.

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