Wachtgebouw, Naardermeer 9

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

Cluster 9. Bombproof Guardhouse A.

NEW DUTCH WATER LINE

Introduction

BOMBPROOF GUARDHOUSE A as an earth-covered structure on the western side of the batteries / lunettes along the Karnemelksloot to the southwest of 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 fortified towns of the Old Dutch Water Line. The water line was primarily based on the inundation of low-lying ground to prevent the enemy from passing through. However, Naarden lay on the high slopes of the Gooi, which made the inundations difficult. It was decided to excavate the high ground. The works on the Karnemelksloot are part of the attempts to hold water around the fortification of Naarden. In 1787 a dam lock was constructed in the Karnemelksloot, which was to hold back the inundation water. To protect the dam lock, two small moated earth lunettes were created on either side of the Karnemelksloot, also in 1787. Besides their role in defending the lock, they also served to prevent the enemy from passing Naarden on the south side. These lunettes were partly demolished during the French period, but at the time of the New Dutch Water Line, around 1873-1875, they were enlarged and provided with bombproof structures. The fort keeper's dwelling Naardermeer 7 must also date from this period. The fortifications of the New Dutch Water Line soon proved outdated. As a result of improvements in artillery, targets could be struck from ever greater distances. An additional defensive line of several kilometres in length was therefore established on the east and south sides of Naarden during the mobilisation period 1914-1919, of which several works around the Karnemelksloot remain. The shelters with ammunition magazines on the works were demolished during this period. In 1939-1940 a tank barrier was constructed on the dike. The works have been owned by the municipality of Naarden since 1929. Currently they are in use by scouting groups. The original bridges to the batteries have disappeared. The guardhouses A and B on the batteries / lunettes were built in 1873-1875 and were considered bombproof by the standards of the time. With the introduction of the high-explosive shell from 1885 onwards, there was no longer any question of a bombproof situation and buildings of this type could be considered outdated.

Description

BOMBPROOF GUARDHOUSE A from 1873-1875, centrally located on the western battery of the works on the Karnemelksloot. The brick structure has thick walls and, to guarantee bombproof protection, is entirely earth-covered, except for the unvaulted front facade, which faces northwest. The front facade is provided with three deeply recessed small windows with shutter-flanked, clamped doors. These provide access to rooms covered with segmental arch vaults, of approximately equal dimensions. (Except for one, which is twice as large and contained officers' quarters.) At the end of the facade are the privies, fitted with small, clamped doors. All doors and windows are topped with arches. Additional relieving arches are incorporated in the front facade. Buildings A and B (Building B is located on the eastern battery) are of approximately equal size and layout, except for the location of the former officers' quarters.

Valuation

The BOMBPROOF GUARDHOUSE A from 1873-1875 is of general importance because of:

* Cultural-historical values as part of the New Dutch Water Line as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and initially realised 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, particularly as an expression of military-strategic building construction, which is based on: a. the system of inundation and access defence (19th century), b. the race against increasingly powerful offensive means (19th century)

The component is an example of a bombproof structure from shortly before the introduction of the high-explosive shell.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the New Dutch Water Line. Also due to the functional and physical coherence with the other components of the complex and as a counterpart to bombproof building B on the eastern battery.

* The component is representative as an example of a bombproof guardhouse from the New Dutch Water Line as also built elsewhere according to a uniform framework with the application of comparable building materials, layout and detailing.

* The component is well-preserved because the guardhouse has been little or not at all altered compared to the situation at the time of construction.