Sector Ouderkerk
This sector is the south-eastern part of the Defence
Line. |
 Sectordepot
Ouderkerk, Materials Division
Located along the river Bullewijk, close to the river
Amstel, near the village Ouderkerk. Used for the storage of
artillery and other materials.
Partly dismantled except an official residence and a
1930's ammunition depot.
 Show air photograph
|
 Sectordepot
Ouderkerk, Ammunition Division
An older fort of the Defence Line's predecessor was used
for the storage of ammunition for this sector.
Originally built to block the new road and railway from
Amsterdam - Utrecht but the bombproof barrack toppled into
the wet moat and were never rebuilt. Used as military
storage depot until 1968 when it was demolished.
Show air photograph |
 Kudelstaart
- Uithoorn Line
Existing dikes were adapted for military use between 1891
and 1895. Six earth batteries, a military road and a sluice
were built during this time.
One of the batteries is mostly intact, while three others
are barely distinguishable from earth heaps. The sluice and
military road are also still in existence.
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 Advanced
Defence along the Drecht
While the Advanced
Defence at Vijfhuizen had concrete shelters, this
defence had only earth strongpoints for infantry supported
by machineguns and canons. The strongpoints and canon
emplacements would be prepared during a mobilisation only.
Along the river Drecht for ten kilometres the strongpoints
would both allow a forward defence and accept retreating
forces into the Defence Line. There are no known
remains.
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 Fort
near De Kwakel
Completed in 1907 with bombproof buildings. Was located
in a forward position into the inundation area to have no
houses in front.
Now surrounded by the village De Kwakel and the terrain
is also used for housing. The fort watchmen's house and
engineering shed are converted into houses.
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 Fort
along the Drecht
Bombproof buildings were constructed between 1908 and
1912. Because of it's location in a bend of the Defence
Line, it has only one gorge-side casemate to support the two
other forts on either side.
Now in use as restaurant, galery and workshops.
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 Fort
near Uithoorn
Completed in 1911, had a defensive task until 1959 but
used by the Army until 1997. Two railways ran close to the fort (closed in
1936 and 1980's).
Now owned by the National Forest Service.
Show air photograph |
 Fort
Waver-Amstel
Located on the cross-roads of the rivers Amstel en Oude
Waver. Completed in 1912 to defend a large area which could
not be inundated and a barrage-sluice in the Oude Waver.
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 Fort
in the Waver-Botshol
Unfinished fort shows the situation as planned for in
"Het Kleine Plan" (The Small Plan, an interim version of the
forts). Defendable earthworks of 1895-1896 were never
completed with bombproof buildings.
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 Fort
along the Winkel
Also unfinished fort with the defendable earthworks of
1895 flattened and removed.
Now in use as a camping-site for (retired) military
personnel.
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 Fort
near Abcoude
The oldest, land based fort of the Defence Line. The
bombproof buildings were built between 1884 and 1887 of both
old style brick and modern concrete.
Show air photograph |
 Batteries along the Gein
Two batteries at each side of the river Gein with earth
ramparts. Build in 1810 for the predecessor but from 1887 on
part of the Defence Line.
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 Geindijk
- Nigtevecht Line
Earth rampart of approx. 1.2 kilometres length providing
a covered way between de liver Gein with the Batteries
along the Gein and the Fort near
Nigtevecht. Near the fort is a concrete secondary
battery with four positions for guns. The west half is also
an inundation dike.
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 Fort near Nigtevecht
Completed in 1904 with bombproof buildings. It lies along
the current Amsterdam-Rhine Canal to block its dikes and
protect the sluices near the village of Nigtevecht. Now a
nature reserve.
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 Fort near Hinderdam
Brick building build in 1848 and 1880. First military works date from 1629. It is located on an island in the river Vecht.
Originally part of the New Dutch Water Defence Line and transferred to the Defence Line in 1913.
Show air photograph |
 Fort Uitermeer
Entrenchment build in 1589 and earth fort in 1673. Brick tower fort build in 1845 with many additions until 1939.
Originally part of the New Dutch Water Defence Line and transferred to the Defence Line in 1913.
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 Fieldstronghold Uitermeer
In addition to the Uitermeer
Casemates, thirty one group shelters to house thirteen
soldiers each where constructed during the mobilisation of
1939-1940. They provided shelter for the men operating the
machine guns and canons in the open earth walls. The earth
walls have since disappeared but the shelters and a tank
barrier remain standing.
Show air photograph |
 Uitermeer Casemates
Six casemates were built to defend the road, rail and waterway accesses near Fort Uitermeer. The concrete casemates, mainly intended for machine guns, were built between 1932 and 1940. One casemate with an ironcast protection of 14 cm thick is one of the seven remaining of the initial 702 built.
Show air photograph |
 Weesp
Fortress
Weesp had its first rampart in 1355. Nothing remains of
the stone city wall which was built in 1530 but demolished
in parts in the 18th century.
Four of the eight planned bastions were constructed to
protect the East and South side of the town. The bastions
had canon shelters, of which two remain, and many canon
emplacements in the earth wall.
Originally part of the New
Dutch Water Defence Line and transferred to the
Defence Line in 1892.
Show air photograph |
 Weesp Fortress -
Defensive Tower on the Ossenmarkt
The tower fort was completed in 1861 with later a
protective earth rampart which was removed again in
1983-1985.
Show air photograph |
 Weesp
Fortress -
Battery De Roskam
The original battery dates from 1787 but in disuse in
1923. Purpose was to defend the back of the Weesp
Fortress: the river Smal Weesp and its dikes.
The area was sold in 1924 and partly used for housing and
again in 1998.
Show air photograph |
 Uitermeer - Hakkelaarsbrug Line
This line is the main defence line since 1915, it replaced the line Weesp - Muiden, and was equipped with field batteries.
Show air photograph |
 Hakkelaarsbrug Casemates
Highway 1, between Amersfoort and Amsterdam enters the area of the "Fortress Holland" as an additional access point. Three concrete casemates, housing one canon and two machine guns, were built in 1931 to defend this access to the first line. The canon casemate has since been demolished.
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 Muiden Casemates
Highway 1, between Amersfoort and Amsterdam enters the area of the "Fortress Holland" as an additional access point. Three concrete casemates, housing one canon and two machine guns, were built in 1931 to defend this access to the second line. One machine gun casemate has since been demolished.
Show air photograph |
 Position at Muiderberg
To deny access over the seadike, and because the Fort near Muiderberg wasn't built yet, many trenches and earth gun emplacement were constructred during the Great War. During the mobilisation of 1939-1940 many concrete shelters and a few road blocks were constructured.
The area is now used for housing with the two road blocks and many concrete shelters remaining.
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 Fort near Muiderberg
Construction started in 1913 but was aborted when the Great War started. A battery protected the seadike instead of a fort as a advanced position of Muiden Fortress.
The area is now used for housing and nothing remains.
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 Muiden Fortress
Stronghold in 1280 for Count Floris V with most current works from 1851 or later. Mainly a rampart, one fort, four casemates and bombproof barrack.
Originally part of the New Dutch Water Defence Line and transferred to the Defence Line in 1892.
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 Muiden Fortress - Muizenfort
Brick fort which was build during the campaign of 1875-1880. The casemates on the two sites of the fort covered the area in front of the wal of Muiden Fortress. Forward firing guns would have been in the open air on top of the earth rampart.
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 Muiden Fortress - West Battery
A 1799 battery was replaced in 1852 with the current brick tower fort. Located near the mouth of the river Vecht in the Southern Sea. Main task was to prevent landings.
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 Battery near Diemerdam
First battery on this location in 1787 but redone in 1810 but most current ammunition buildings and guns emplacements from 1889 and 1896. Task was to protect Amsterdam from attacks from the Souternsea in co-operation with Fort along Pampus and the Battery near Durgerdam.
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 Fort along Pampus
Unique island-fort which was completed in 1895 but went out of use in 1932. Oval shaped main building with dry moat and originally two turrets with each two gun. See Battery near Diemerdam for task description.
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 Battery near Durgerdam
Original battery dates from 1809 on the artificial lighthouse island of 1701. Current ammunition buildings and guns emplacements from 1887 and 1889. See Battery near Diemerdam for task description.
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