Wachtgebouw, Naardermeer 7

English translation

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Description

Cluster 9. Fort-keeper's dwelling.

NEW HOLLANDIC WATERLINE

Introduction

FORT-KEEPER'S DWELLING near the combined access to the two batteries that form the Work on the Karnemelksloot to the southwest of Naarden. Naarden lies on the high grounds between the Naardermeer and the Zuiderzee, which formed an access to Amsterdam and was one of the most important fortified cities of the Old Hollandic Waterline. The waterline was primarily based on inundation of low-lying grounds in order to prevent the enemy from passing through. However, Naarden lay on the high ridges of the Gooi, which made the inundations difficult. It was decided to excavate the high grounds. The works on the Karnemelksloot are part of the attempts to hold water around the fortress of Naarden. In 1787 a dam sluice was constructed in the Karnemelksloot to hold the inundation water. For the protection of the dam sluice, two small, embanked earth lunettes were also constructed in 1787 on either side of the Karnemelksloot. Besides serving as a defence of the sluice, 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 Hollandic Waterline, around 1873-1875, they were enlarged and provided with structures. The fort-keeper's dwelling must have been built during this period.

Because most forts and other defence works (located outside built-up areas) - when there was no mobilisation or exercises - had no garrison of military personnel, in many cases there was a separate dwelling or other accommodation for a caretaker or keeper. Sometimes such a dwelling or accommodation also had another function, such as that of a sluice-keeper's or bridge-keeper's dwelling. As regards the location of a keeper's dwelling, there were no uniform standards; the building materials used vary, but usually construction was in brick or wood. The fort-keeper's dwelling at Naardermeer 7 dates from the period 1873-1875. Close to the dwelling, on the northeast side, lie a few tetrahedrons in the verge of the road, removable concrete components of a road barrier from the period 1939-1940.

Description

The FORT-KEEPER'S DWELLING of the Works on the Karnemelksloot, with the address Naardermeer 7, dates from 1873-1875 and lies directly north of the West Battery, on the dike on the western bank of the Karnemelksloot. The dwelling lies at a slight angle to the dike and is oriented with its front facade to the southeast (front side). It is a brick, whitewashed structure of one storey high, provided with a hipped roof with closely laid tiles. The facades are provided with, among other things, six-light sash windows with shutters. In the south facade is located the front door with fanlight. The property is particularly recognizable as a fort-keeper's dwelling because of its strategic location.

Valuation

The FORT-KEEPER'S DWELLING of the Works on the Karnemelksloot is of general importance because of:

* Cultural-historical values as part of the New Hollandic Waterline as it was 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 for 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 (19th century), b. the race with increasingly strengthening offensive means (19th century).

The component is an example of a military service dwelling from 1873-1875.

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

* The component from 1873-1875 is representative as an example of a military service dwelling located outside the respective defence works.

* The component is fairly well preserved in terms of its built mass, layout and detailing, but is above all well preserved and recognizable in its original function as a fort-keeper's dwelling because of its striking location within the waterline landscape and because of the ancillary structures of the complex Works on the Karnemelksloot.