Old Dutch Water Line

This tour is part of a set of 7 tours regarding the water lines in the Netherlands.

A water line is a series of defensive works that are (partly) surrounded by inundated areas.

In the Netherlands, flooding areas turned out to be a good way to stop the enemy. To this end, special water management works were even made (for example, special inundation locks).

A water line is often a string of fortifications with inundation areas in between. The fortifications are located around cities and on higher parts, which cannot be flooded (accesses). Only in case of acute threat were the areas inundated.

The (Old) Dutch Water Line was a water line for the defense of Holland in the 17th and 18th centuries.

After the establishment of inundations had already proved to be an effective means of defense in 1573 (Alkmaar), 1574 (Leiden) and 1629 (the Utrecht Water line between the Zuiderzee and the Lek), a water line between the Zuiderzee and the Merwede was hastily set up in the Disaster Year 1672 to stop the French troops under Louis XIV before they would also conquer Holland. This line ran from Muiden via Woerden and Goejanverwellesluis to Gorinchem. Utrecht was excluded because this city had already been conquered by the French at that time. In December 1672, 9,000 French soldiers crossed the narrow strip of water at Woerden because it was frozen. After the sack of Zwammerdam, they withdrew due to the incoming thaw.

After this line had been held in 1672, it became more permanent as well as his name. Accesses were fortified with numerous forts, batteries and other defenses. Until the Napoleonic era, the line was shifted to the east a number of times, without, however, including the city of Utrecht. From 1815 a completely new defensive line was set up with this city as the central point: a line that from 1871 was officially called the New Dutch Water Line, to distinguish it from the line that would then be referred to as the Old Dutch Water Line .

This route starts at Arsenaal Restaurants BV Restaurant - Brasserie Grill &Lounge - Events in the fortified city of Naarden. While enjoying a cup of coffee in the Brasserie, 100 meters to the left of it, we get ready to go far back in time at the time of the Old Dutch Water Line. Cannonballs fly around our ears and the lords of the castle are also present.

We follow this authentic line from north to south and end in the fortified town of Woudrichem literally in the water.

Lunch is very good on half the route at Uitspanning Goejanverwelle, Hekendorp.

The end point is at Restaurant de Stroming. And it couldn't be more appropriate with this route that goes over water and the flooding of polders and areas in wartime as a defense. So we end up in the water.