Batterij, Werken aan de Karnemelksloot Naarden (Gooise meren 27)

English translation

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Description

Cluster 9. Westbatterij with works.

NEW HOLLAND WATERLINE

Introduction

WESTBATTERIJ WITH WORKS (former lunette) as defence of the lock sluice in the Karnemelksloot to the south-west of the Vesting Naarden. Naarden lies on the high ground between the Naardermeer and the Zuiderzee, which formed an access to Amsterdam and was one of the most important fortress towns of the Old Holland Waterline. The waterline was primarily based on inundation of low-lying land to prevent the enemy from passing through. However, Naarden lay on the high slopes of the Gooi, which made inundations difficult. It was decided to excavate the high ground. The works on the Karnemelksloot are part of the efforts to hold water around the fortress Naarden. In 1787 a lock sluice was constructed in the Karnemelksloot. To protect the lock sluice, two small, moated, earthen lunettes were built, also in 1787, on either side of the Karnemelksloot. In addition to defending the sluice, they also served to prevent the enemy from passing Naarden from the south. The lunettes were demolished in the French period, but at the time of the New Holland Waterline, around 1873-1875, were enlarged into batteries and provided with bomb-proof buildings in the ramparts. The fort-keeper's house, addressed Naardermeer 7, must also date from this period. These fortifications of the New Holland Waterline quickly became outdated after their construction. As a result of improvements in artillery, effective fire could be directed from ever greater distances. On the east and south sides of Naarden, therefore, a line of defence several kilometres long was established during the mobilization period 1914-1919, of which various works remain around the Karnemelksloot. The shelters with ammunition magazines on the batteries were demolished in this period. In 1939-1940 a tank barrier was built on the dyke. The works have been owned by the municipality of Naarden since 1929. They are currently in use by scout groups. The lock sluice has been restored. Originally, there were two bridges dating from 1873 on the north side, but these have disappeared.

Description

WESTBATTERIJ WITH WORKS (former lunette) as defence of the lock sluice in the Karnemelksloot near the Vesting Naarden. One of a pair originally from 1787, but largely demolished in 1815 and enlarged between 1873-1875 within the framework of the New Holland Waterline into BATTERIES from lunettes. Initially they were small, open-at-the-gorge defensive works with two faces and short flanks on either side, the whole provided with gun emplacements; later the lunettes were enlarged and provided with some bomb-proof buildings. The WORKS have since consisted of a polygon (irregular pentagon), moated earthwork to the west of the lock sluice in the Karnemelksloot. The (wet) ditch is wider on the south side (front side) than on the other sides. The original earthen breastwork, 7.00 metres wide and 5.00 metres high on the front side, has been largely preserved. The earthworks of the bomb-proof buildings project above this breastwork.

Valuation

The WESTBATTERIJ WITH WORKS (former lunette) from 1787 and 1873-1875 is of general interest because of:

* Cultural-historical values as part of the New Holland Waterline as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and initially constructed 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 art, which is based on: a. the system of inundation and access defence (19th century), b. the race with increasingly strengthened offensive means (19th century)

The component is an example of an earthen work (battery, formerly lunette) with earthworks and ditch from 1787 and 1873-1875.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the New Holland Waterline. Also because of the functional and physical connection with the other components of the complex and because of the defensive function with regard to accesses.

* The component is relatively rare because of the combination of two batteries located on either side of the lock sluice, which originally date from the Old Holland Waterline, but have been incorporated into and modernized within the New Holland Waterline.

* The component is fairly well preserved because the moated battery (lunette) is still largely present and recognizable, including part of the earthworks and buildings.