Open verdedigingswerk, ? Renswoude

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

Introduction:

The Grebbelinie is a water line of approximately 60 kilometres in length, which makes use of the wet conditions in the western, lowest-lying part of the Gelderse Vallei. It is a unique example of a water line constructed in the eighteenth century. Because no major interventions have taken place in the structure of the line since then, the greater part of the line embankment, the weirs and the earthen defensive works have been preserved. The Grebbelinie comprises embankments, earthen forts, sluices, casemates, outposts, anti-tank ditches, inundation areas, trenches, bunkers etc. Because it was always assumed that the line had to be defended by a temporary field army, no permanent quarters for military personnel were built in the Grebbelinie.

The line was directed against a possible advancing enemy from the east. By inundating land, enemy troops could be held back. The Grebbelinie had to ensure that this happened in a controlled manner. The water in the inundated area had to be deep enough to prevent enemy vehicles and artillery from passing through, but not so deep that the enemy could approach the line with vessels. At those places that were too high to be inundated, defensive works were constructed. In establishing the inundation areas, use was made of the lower-lying fields. In order to submerge the area as efficiently as possible, the line was divided from south to north into 11 compartments. The water in each compartment was dammed up by means of a weir that lay across the line embankment.

After fortifications had been built incidentally in this area from the end of the 16th century onwards, work began in 1744 on the suggestion of the then Director-General of Fortifications B.J. de Roy on the construction of the earthen embankment which would later become the Grebbelinie dike. The embankment was to hold back the water, so that the Gelderse side of the dike could be inundated. Furthermore, the plan provided, because of the height difference between the Nederrijn and the Zuiderzee, for the construction of weirs or cross dikes that could hold back the water. In this way, a series of water-filled compartments was created, which descended step-like ever further to the north. In total, eight weirs were constructed to enable the area to be submerged in a controlled manner. In 1786 further fortifications were constructed.

The first time the line was brought into readiness was in 1793 when France declared war on the Netherlands. The water level in the Rhine was, however, at that time too low to submerge the line. Because the advance was not continued, the French did not reach the line at that time. However, when the French under General Pichegru returned at the end of 1794, the line could be submerged. But a severe frost period at the beginning of 1795 meant that the French armies could cross the frozen rivers and inundations without difficulty.

Ultimately, the French gave the line its final form in 1799. They paid much attention to improving the defence of the weirs and laid out earthen outposts there. Because Napoleon incorrectly believed in 1809 that no danger threatened from the east, the Grebbelinie was abandoned as a defensive work.

Only in 1846 did people begin to recognize the importance of the Grebbelinie for national defence. To protect the railway line Utrecht - Arnhem, it was laid across the already existing fort at the Buursteeg. In 1860 it was determined that the Grebbelinie should be one of the most important defensive lines of our country. Following this, new dam sluices were placed in the main weirs, so that the area in front of the line could be submerged more quickly. In 1866 the Diversion Canal was constructed to the east of Veenendaal, which reduced the inundation time from 20 to 12 days. But nevertheless, the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie became the most important defensive line, because inundations could be achieved there more quickly and easily. According to measurements, at the Grebbelinie the water in the Rhine was high enough to realize submergence for only a small part of the year. Furthermore, it still took too long for the water in the first compartment to reach a high enough level to allow it to flow through to the other compartments.

Only during the mobilization of 1939-1940 did the Grebbelinie, under the name Valleilinie, become the main defensive line of our country. Because shortly before the Vallei Canal had been dug to improve drainage in the Gelderse Vallei, a continuous canal had now been created between the Nederrijn and the IJsselmeer, which could also serve as an anti-tank ditch and also offered better possibilities for inundating the area.

Large areas on the eastern side were now submerged and farmhouses that were in the field of fire were demolished. Around Veenendaal, extensive trenches and anti-tank ditches were dug and 271 concrete machine-gun casemates were built. In March 1940, the main defence of the eastern front of the Vesting Holland was moved from the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie to the Grebbelinie. This led to the construction of even more trenches, anti-tank ditches and wire entanglements, particularly in the areas between Woudenberg - Renswoude and Veenendaal that could not be inundated. On 10 May German troops invaded our country. Although the fighting at the Grebbeberg became most well-known, there was also heavy fighting at other places on the line. The Germans finally made the last modification to the line in 1944. The line was now given the name Pantherstellung. The aim of the line was to hold back an enemy advancing towards Germany and the main line of fire was this time to the west and south. More than 20 gun casemates were built, of which 12 are still preserved today. In 1951 the Grebbelinie was finally abandoned as a defensive line.

The part of the Fort at the Buursteeg in the municipality of Renswoude is located to the north of the Buursteeg and since 1844 also to the north of the railway line Utrecht-Arnhem, the eastern side of the Grebbeberg and the Grift. The work was constructed with the aim of being able to defend access to the Slaperdijk and the Emmikhuizerberg. In 1844 the railway line was laid across the fort, which also gave the fort the task of protecting the railway line.

Description:

An earthen DEFENSIVE WORK constructed in 1786, located on either side of the railway line Utrecht-Arnhem. The part to the north of the railway line lies in the municipality of Renswoude, the part to the south of the railway line in the municipality of Veenendaal. The ground form of the fort is a symmetrical bastioned earthen work with two recessed flanks and behind them on both sides a redoubt, surrounded by main and secondary ditches. The fort has a maximum area of 500 by 300 metres including ditches and is thereby the largest preserved fort of the Grebbelinie.

Valuation

The construction is of general importance by virtue of:

Cultural-historical values as part of the Grebbelinie, as this was constructed in six phases over a period of 200 years. Of great importance by virtue of its commemorative value because of the role during the fighting in 1939-1940.

Architectural-historical values in particular as an expression of military-strategic construction, which is based on:

a. the system of inundation and access defence (18th, 19th and 20th centuries), b. the system of 'living' field fortification in depth (20th century) c. the outpost function during the mobilization and military operations 1939 - 1940

This is a complex that is in the first place an example of defensive works from the period:

phase 2: 1785-'86, fortification

Archaeological values because of the expected traces of trenches, anti-tank ditches and the like present in the soil.

Ensemble value by virtue of its location within the system of the Grebbelinie in general. Also by virtue of the functional and physical coherence of the components of the complex. Finally, there is a preserved/reasonably preserved relationship with the field of fire and inundation area.

The complex is rare because it is a still largely existing example of an 18th century defensive work in the Grebbelinie and as such is representative (characteristic) of this type of defensive works.

With names in the part of the complex to the south of the railway line, virtually all components thereof are present in more or less recognizable form and function.