Stelling van Amsterdam

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Defence Line of Amsterdam
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
Type Cultural
Criteria ii, iv, v
Reference 759
UNESCO region Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription 1996 (20th Session)
Fort south of Spaarndam.
Muizenfort in Muiden.
Fortifications on Pampus island.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Defence Line of Amsterdam (in Dutch named Stelling van Amsterdam) is a 135 km long ring of fortifications around Amsterdam, consisting of 42 forts located between 10 and 15 kilometers from the centre, and lowlands that can easily be flooded in time of war.[1] The flooding was designed to give a depth of about 30 cm, insufficient for boats to traverse. Any buildings within 1 km of the line had to be made of wood, so that they could be burnt and the obstruction removed.

The Stelling van Amsterdam was constructed between 1880 and 1920. The invention of the aeroplane and tank made the forts obsolete almost as soon as they were finished. Many of the forts now are under both the control of the town councils and the nature department and may be visited. Monuments Day, on the second Saturday in September, is the ideal day to visit, as entrance is free.

Function

The Stelling van Amsterdam was primarily a defensive "water line" (in Dutch: waterlinie). In the event of an enemy attack, large tracts of land around Amsterdam would be inundated with water, preventing the enemy from advancing. Amsterdam would function as a national redoubt or reduit, as the last stronghold of the Netherlands. Forts were built where roads, railways, or dikes crossed through the water line. At such locations there would be no water to stop the enemy, and therefore the forts were intended to shell the enemy.

Construction

The law for the construction of the Stelling van Amsterdam was passed in 1874. During the preparations prior to construction, it became apparent that the design was already outdated by modern technical advances. The invention of the brisance grenade (which would explode on impact of the target) necessitated the change from masonry to concrete forts. The Dutch did not have the required experience yet using and building with concrete so extensive tests had to be performed; concrete structures were shelled with the heaviest artillery available at that time. Further delays resulted from the fact that the sand foundations had to settle for several years before the forts could be built on them. Only in 1897 could the actual construction finally begin.

Service

The Stelling van Amsterdam has never seen combat service and the use of aircraft rendered it obsolete after World War I. It was however maintained and kept in service until it was decommissioned in 1963.

The dike through the Haarlemmermeer, which made it possible to flood the southern portion of the polder while the northern portion could continue to produce food for Amsterdam, is now cut by the A4 Motorway. This motorway also goes under the Ringvaart at Roelofarendsveen, making flooding of the Haarlemmermeer Polder, and future use of the Stelling no longer possible.

In 1996, the complete Stelling van Amsterdam was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

List of forts

North front

Northwest front

West front

Southwest front

South front

Southeast front

Zuiderzee front

See also

Dutch waterlines

Other

References

  1. ↑ "21 World Heritage Sites you have probably never heard of". Daily Telegraph.

External links

Coordinates: 52°22′28″N 4°53′35″E / 52.37444°N 4.89306°E / 52.37444; 4.89306

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