Betonnen werken Uitermeer

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

Also lies partly in the municipalities of Wijdemeren Weesp and Hilversum see complex number 531332.

Cluster 3.

NEW HOLLANDSE WATERLINIE

Introduction

GROUP SHELTERS TYPE P as 20th-century, serially constructed, additions to the existing defence. The group shelters Type P were built according to more or less uniform or standard design (especially) in the years 1939-1940 in multiple locations in the Netherlands. The total number of built examples amounts to approximately 700, of which in the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie approximately 570; the majority (approximately 400) of these still exist. The building programme of the group shelters Type P was not completed at the outbreak of the Second World War and a number of examples are known to have never been completed. Type P (also called 'the pyramid' because of its distinctive shape) is presumably the most well-known type of concrete defensive structure in the Netherlands. The type originated from the so-called VIS 77 (Regulation for Setting up Positions no. 77), from 1928 and had among its purposes being part of the defence of a number of new accesses, including in particular (motor)ways. 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 (earthen) works were later levelled or demolished almost everywhere, the concrete shelters nowadays often lie partly below ground level. The traditionally completely closed front or forward 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 recognisable with difficulty, but particularly on forts or in otherwise uneven terrain they are sometimes still present. Numerous examples of Type P were built in inundatable areas, in some cases with now still visible pile foundations; in others a protruding foundation slab all round or also a trough against inundation water is visible.

Description

The GROUP SHELTERS TYPE P are located in the eastern part of the complex both in small clusters and in linear arrangement, alongside various accesses, such as the railway line Amersfoort-Amsterdam, the provincial road Hilversum-Weesp, the 's-Gravelandsche Vaart and the Hollandse Kade. In the western part of the complex they lie directly at the machine-gun casemates and also in a more linear arrangement along the Vecht banks between Forts Uitermeer and Hinderdam. Also on the western Vecht banks lie several group shelters type P, of which a number were never completed and one example in the midst of buildings on the Lage Klompweg. The shelters bear the letter U or H (Uitermeer or Hinderdam) depending on the section under which they fell. The shelters are one storey high and, usually in reinforced concrete of approximately 100 to 180 cm thick cast concrete, and formed a shrapnel-proof, military shelter, which could provide protection for 10-12 infantrymen / artillery personnel, at protection class W 12-15 or W 21-28. On the East Front most belong to the heaviest class. 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 m (w x d x h). The visible height above ground level, however, varies. Both blind side walls and the rear face are executed vertically to approximately 3 m height. Above this these walls kink at approximately 45 degrees inward, to then transition into a flat roof. On the right in the rear face is at locally varying height above ground level an (later either sealed or not), mostly square access opening. The entirely vertical, closed front face 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 attachment of camouflage material. A characteristic component on top of the shelter type P is the conical, concrete 'vent', which was intended for use of a periscope. In practice, however, these periscopes were rarely or never installed. The interior of the group shelters Type P consists of a short passage (usually with a concrete retaining wall or balustrade and usually a few descending steps) and from there a 'lock' directed to the left which could be sealed by a (consisting of multiple parts) heavy, steel door. Via a second, comparable door a back room could be reached turning right, the actual shelter. The access could be covered from this room by a loophole. In practice, however, these doors were also rarely or never installed. 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 machine-gun for surveillance of the entrance.

Valuation

The GROUP SHELTERS TYPE P are of general importance because of:

* Cultural-historical values as part of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and initially from 1815 by him, Jan Blanken and major-engineer Willem Offerhaus was realised and thereafter by others during approximately 125 years was strengthened and improved.

* Architectural-historical values, in particular as an expression of military-strategic building, which is based on: a. the system of inundation and access defence (19th and 20th century), b. the race with increasing 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), without earth covering.

* Ensemble value and situational values as components of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie 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 elements of a deconcentrated defence line added to the existing fortification system.

* The components are reasonably well preserved and can still be readily recognised in the field as built elements.