Stelling van Amsterdam
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| Defence Line of Amsterdam* | |
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| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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| State Party |  Netherlands |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iv, v |
| Reference | 735 |
| Region† | Europe and North America |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1996 (20th Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO. |
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The UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Defense 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 to 15 kilometers the centre, and lowlands that can easily be flooded in time of war. 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 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.
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[edit] Function
The Stelling van Amsterdam was primarily a defensive "water line" (in Dutch: waterlinie). In the event of an enemy attack, large tracks of land around Amsterdam would be inundated with water, preventing the enemy from advancing. Amsterdam would function as a national 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.
[edit] 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 During the preparations prior to construction, it became apparent that the design was already outdated by modern technical advances.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. But the Dutch did not have the required experience yet using and building with concrete. Therefore extensive tests had to be performed where 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. Not until 1897 could the actual construction finally begin.
[edit] 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 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.
[edit] The 42 forts of the Stelling
[edit] North front
- Fort near Edam
- Fort near Kwadijk
- Fort North of Purmerend
- Fort along Nekkerweg
- Fort along Middenweg
- Fort along Jisperweg
- Fort near Spijkerboor
[edit] Northwest front
- Fort near Marken-Binnen
- Fort near Krommeniedijk
- Fort along Den Ham
- Fort near Veldhuis
- Fort along the St.Aagtendijk
- Fort in the Zuidwijkermeerpolder
- Fort near Velsen
- Coastal Fort near IJmuiden
[edit] West front
- Fort North of Spaarndam
- Fort South of Spaarndam
- Fort near Penningsveer
- Fort near the Liebrug
- Fort along the Liede
[edit] Southwest front
- Fort near Vijfhuizen
- Battery along IJweg
- Fort near Hoofddorp
- Battery along Sloterweg
- Fort near Aalsmeer
[edit] South front
- Fort near Kudelstaart
- Fort near De Kwakel
- Fort along the Drecht
- Fort near Uithoorn
- Fort Waver-Amstel
- Fort in the Waver-Botshol
- Fort along the Winkel
[edit] Southeast front
- Fort near Abcoude
- Batteries along the Gein
- Fort near Nigtevecht
- Fort near Hinderdam
- Fort Uitermeer
- Weesp Fortress
[edit] Zuiderzee front
- Muiden Fortress
- Battery near Diemerdam
- Fort along Pampus
- Batterij near Durgerdam (Vuurtoreneiland)
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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