Frisian Waterline

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 Frisian Water Line

At the end of the sixteenth century, the Frisian stadtholder Willem Lodewijk had a number of redoubts built along the rivers De Lende and De Tjonger and in the wet peatland of East Frisia. He did this to prevent incursions by the Spaniards, with whom we were at war. However, we do not yet speak of a water line, because this is only the case when land is deliberately flooded (inundated). In 1672 and 1673 we went to war with France, England and the bishops of Munster and Cologne. At that time we were mainly dealing with the bishop of Munster, Bommen Berend. At first he was mainly focused on Groningen because the bishop there had certain rights in the Ommelanden area and he mainly wanted to have control over the Dijlerschans. If you had this ramp, you also had control over trade between northern Germany and Groningen. Groningen, however, held its ground and celebrates groningen's relief to this day on 28 August. Friesland, meanwhile, began repairing the redoubts and flooding areas. To achieve this, dams were built in the Tjonger and De Lende in 1673. However, this was not a great success. Because when Bommen Berend finally started the attack on Friesland on 24 August 1673, the Münster troops passed through De Lende and even in certain places over De Tjonger without any problems. The Bekhofschans near Oldeberkoop and the Blessebrugschans south of Wolvega were taken in no time and the main force led by General Mornas moved without problems over Makkinga and through De Tjonger to Donkerbroek. Because a violent northwesterly storm broke out on 28 August, which pushed up the water in the Zuiderzee and with it the water in De Lende and De Tjonger, the Münster troops threatened to be trapped by the water. In a panic, the troops then fled via Wolvega and the Blessebrugschans to Steenwijk where Bommen Berend then had his headquarters. During the crossing over De Lende, dozens of Münster soldiers drowned. After 1673, the Frisian Water Line ceased to serve.

The Frisian Water Line is a defensive line that runs from Kuinre (on the former Zuiderzee), through stream valleys of the Linde and the Tjonger (Southeast Friesland), towards Frieschepalen. The line, once established to stop the Spaniards, protected Friesland from attacks from the south in the 17th century. Most memorable attack was in the disaster year 1672-1673. The then bishop of Münster wanted to conquer 'Fryslân'. The Frisians brought the Frisian Water Line into position and crossed the dikes. The water rose and the enemy was unable to penetrate Leeuwarden. The Frisian Water Line consists of various defenses, including many redoubts (raised earthen ramparts). Work is now underway to bring back and make the defensive line in the landscape experienceable.

The route starts and ends in the middle of the former Zuiderzee at beach pavilion "Bij Ons in de Wellerwaard", Friesepad 4a, 8305 AZ Emmeloord.