Work at Krachtwijk

In 1741-1742 it was proposed that the then eighth quay should follow the course of the sogenaemde Vudijck north of Amerfoort, the current Hoogerhorsterweg. The line dike and the Vudijk were indeed connected in 1745 and it was the intention that the dike would actually be set up as a retaining quay, complete with reinforcements.

Hornwork in the Liniedijk

However, little came of this; In the following decades, the Ingelanden had the Vudijk partly excavated to make water drainage possible. When the Grebbe Line was inundated for the first time in 1794, the strip at Krachtwijk remained dry. In 1793 a report had already warned about this. It was decided to raise and relocate the Vudijk. In addition, the dike was to be perpendicular to the Grebbeliniedijk, which was done in 1795-96.

Originally, they wanted to build an outpost on the quay, as would be done at the Groeperkade, Asschatterkade and the Coelhorsterkade. Unfortunately, a wide area along the dike proved difficult to inundate. As a result, the area became too wide to be covered with a few guns on an outpost. That is why it was decided to make a fortification that was part of the retrachement (the line dike). With the restored Vudijk, it was possible to prevent the inundation water from flowing into the Zuiderzee. The plans were realized during the French period. The Work at Krachtwijk from 1799 now protected the Vuydijk and was also called Post aan de Vuydijk. In 1799 the line was also extended to the junction with the Slaagse Dijk.

The work is still almost entirely present, although the contours in the landscape will not be noticeable to everyone. These are especially visible from the air. The post consists of a rampart in the shape of an M, at the place where the Vuydijk connects to the Grebbe Line. In 1939 casemates were placed on it, shrapnel-proof concrete shelters with three embrasures, or porcupines. There are two types on shore; an S3 casemate and two enlarged porcupines (Szw) for a heavy machine gun. The firing positions still cover the forecourt, which is no longer inundated, and give the peaceful dike the grim appearance befitting a defensive structure. Remnants of a cast steel dome and a second heavy casemate accentuate the place where the Grebbe Line merges with the Eemdijk/Slaagse Dijk. At the intersection with the Vudijk there are stone and concrete facilities. In the event of extremely high water, the Water Board can place bulkhead beams between them, so that the cut-off in the dike is closed.

Bomoto