Schuilplaats, Betonnen werken Muiden-Muiderberg Muiderberg

English translation

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Description

Cluster 2. Group shelters type P.

NEW HOLLAND WATERLINE

Introduction

GROUP SHELTERS TYPE P as 20th-century, series-built additions to the existing fortification. The group shelters Type P were built according to more or less uniform or standard design (primarily) in the years 1939-1940 at multiple locations in the Netherlands. The total number of built examples amounts to approximately 700, of which approximately 570 in the New Holland Waterline; the majority (approximately 400) of these still exist. The building programme for the group shelters Type P had not been completed at the outbreak of the Second World War and a number of examples are known to have never been finished. Type P (also known as 'the pyramid' because of its distinctive shape) is presumably the most well-known type of concrete defensive work in the Netherlands. The type emerged from the so-called VIS 77 (Regulation for Setting up Positions no. 77) from 1928 and had, among other things, the purpose of forming part of the defence of a number of existing and new accesses, including especially (motorway) roads. The group shelter Type P usually came into being in the immediate vicinity of already existing or contemporaneously realised casemates, gun emplacements, fortifications or trenches. Because the trenches and other earthworks were subsequently levelled or demolished almost everywhere, the concrete shelters nowadays sometimes lie partly below ground level. The entirely closed front or front side of the group shelters Type P was in many cases covered by earthworks which could form part of a glacis to protect the trench or a covered way. These earthworks are now mostly no longer present or only barely recognisable, but particularly on forts or in otherwise undulating terrain they are sometimes still present. Numerous examples of Type P were built in inundatable areas, in some cases with a still-visible pile foundation; in others, a projecting foundation slab all around or also a trough against floodwater is visible.

Description

The GROUP SHELTERS TYPE P type are located in clusters in the eastern part of the complex near the Hakkelaarsbrug and by the gun casemates to the south of Muiden. They are one storey high and, usually constructed in reinforced cast concrete of approximately 100 to 180 cm thick, and formed a shell-proof military shelter that could provide protection for 10-12 infantrymen / artillerymen, with protection class W 12-15 or W 21-28. In the East Front most belong to the heaviest class. The group shelters Type P were built on a rectangular ground plan, with dimensions ranging from approximately 5.50 x 7.20 x 4.70 m to 6.50 x 8.20 x 4.90 (w x d x h). The visible height above ground level varies, however. Both blind side walls and the rear side are executed vertically up to approximately 3.00 m height. Above this these walls slope inward at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, then proceed into a flat roof. On the right of the rear side is an (later either sealed or not), usually square access opening at locally varying height above ground level. The entirely vertical, closed front side reflects the 45-degree angles and thus ends as a 'truncated pointed gable'. In a number of cases, iron hooks or brackets were cast into the wall(s) which could serve for the attachment of camouflage material. A characteristic component on top of the shelter type P is the conical, concrete 'outlet', which was intended for the application of a periscope. These periscopes were, however, rarely or never actually installed in practice. The interior of the group shelters Type P consists of a short corridor (usually with a concrete retaining wall or balustrade and usually a few descending steps) and a 'lock' directed to the left from this, which could be sealed by a (consisting of multiple parts) heavy, steel door. Via a second, comparable door, a rear, almost square space could be reached by turning right, the actual shelter. Access from this space could be covered by a rifle loophole. However, the steel doors were rarely or never installed and the entrances were later often sealed with brick and plastered over. The ceilings, located just over two metres above floor level, are flat and rectangular. In a number of cases interior components are still present, such as (remains of) wooden benches or a support for the handheld weapon for covering the entrance.

Valuation

GROUP SHELTERS TYPE P are of general importance because of:

* Cultural-historical values as part of the New Holland Waterline as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and realised in the first instance from 1815 by him, Jan Blanken and major-engineer Willem Offerhaus and subsequently strengthened and improved by others over approximately 125 years.

* Architectural-historical values, in particular as an expression of military-strategic building, which is based on: a. the system of inundation and access defence (20th century), b. the race with increasingly strengthening offensive means (20th century), c. the system of 'living' field fortification in depth (20th century)

These are components from the period 1939-1940. These components are examples of reinforced concrete group shelters (Type P / Pyramid), mostly without earth covering.

* Ensemble value and situational values as components of the New Holland Waterline and because of the functional and physical coherence with the other components of the complex.

* The components are representative (characteristic) because they are clearly recognisable as components of a deconcentrated defence line added to the existing fortification system.

* The components are reasonably well preserved and are still readily recognisable in the field as built components.