New Road 18 - flood 1945

The Bethunepolder was an inundation area in the New Dutch Waterline. This meant that in times of war threat, the land could be flooded. By flooding the land about 40 centimeters deep, it became impassable for soldiers and too shallow for boats. The use of water as a defense mechanism was the essence of the NDWL.

Several days after the outbreak of war on May 10, 1940, the Bethunepolder was indeed prepared for inundation. The residents and their livestock had to evacuate. Since the polder was still divided into two municipalities - Tienhoven and Maarsseveen - the residents also had to flee to two different destinations. They departed from Breukelen station to host families in North Holland. Due to the rapid capitulation on May 14, 1940, the inundation was halted and they could soon return home.

During the war, many outsiders sought shelter in the polder or asked farmers for food and milk. Just before the end of World War II, the land was flooded after all, but this time by the Germans against the advancing Allied armies.

This photo from April 1945 shows how high the water came in the Bethunepolder at that time; it was almost up to the first floor of this house, Middenweg 18.

Route: Continue on the Nieuweweg until the junction with the first road on the right, the Veenkade.

ZichtopdeVechtstreek