Excursion to the Dutch Water Defense System
A highlight of the first day of the meeting was the visit of the 19th Century Dutch water Defense System, The Hollandse Waterlinie
Ever since the Middle Ages, the Dutch have turned the water to their advantage. Initially to make the swampy land suitable for agriculture and housing. But later, the water was also used as an ally: water control as a military defence strategy.
The low polder landscape could be flooded to block the enemy's way. Water was used to stop the enemy. Through an ingenious system of locks, dikes and canals, wide swathes of land were flooded.
The World Heritage Site the Dutch Water Defence Lines is unique in the world for its combination of landscape, water management and forts. Invisible forbidden circles and inundation plains lie in the landscape. Something that cannot be seen by an untrained eye, but which is the silent and empty force behind the operation of the line.
The forts complete the defences. These are located in places that could not be flooded but were important in closing the water lines. They also protected the water works. The military works show more than 300 years of historical development of military architecture in the field of fortification.
5th Partner Meeting - Utrecht, Netherlands