Kazemat (B10), Kleizuwe Kortenhoef (Wijdemeren 27)

English translation

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Description

Cluster 13. Machine-gun and cannon casemate.

NEW HOLLANDSE WATERLINIE

Introduction

MACHINE-GUN AND CANNON CASEMATE/ANNEX STORE as part of the access defence on Fort Kijkuit. Because of the Provincial Road Hilversum-Haarlem and the parallel Hilversumsch Canal laid out shortly before the Second World War, the existing access defence was expanded with a number of concrete works, including a machine-gun and cannon casemate on Fort Kijkuit. Besides the defence of the access, the deconcentration of the defence initiated at the beginning of the 20th century also played a role in the construction of dispersed casemates and other small concrete works. Deconcentration of the defence was, among other things, a response to the arrival of rifled artillery (with rotating projectiles), the brisance grenade (with high-explosive filling) and the appearance of enfilading fire. In the last decades of the 19th century, forts became such easy and vulnerable targets that posed great risks for the concentrated functions within them. From the end of the 19th century, therefore, a deconcentration of functions was carried out, among other forms in the shape of the construction of intermediate batteries. Furthermore, between the forts (semi)permanent and temporary works were laid out (in linear relationship), such as kilometres-long 'covered ways' and often also dozens of brick, earth and concrete works. Amongst these were trenches (composed of wood and earth) to be constructed during mobilisation time, group nests, personnel positions, shelters and earth and concrete gun emplacements (casemates), etc. The rise of much faster attack and transport means - both on land and through the air - which made surprise attacks possible, also played a role here, especially in the approach to the Second World War. Deconcentration of the defence was a phenomenon that occurred in many places, but especially in the flat and 'open' Netherlands. Thus around 40 so-called VIS-casemates were built in the Vesting Holland in the 1930s (after: Instruction Regulation for Setting Up Positions no. 77, from 1928). These casemates usually came about because of changes in traffic infrastructure, which meant a weakening of a defensive line. The costs were therefore usually borne by the cause of the weakening and not by the Ministry of Defence. Such concrete works were also built on existing forts, such as on Fort Kijkuit, where in 1935 a double casemate was constructed. The combined machine-gun and cannon casemate with steel front armour on Fort Kijkuit does not belong to the standard VIS-casemate types and is unique of its kind.

Description

MACHINE-GUN AND CANNON CASEMATE ANNEX STORE, centrally located on the front side of Fort Kijkuit. The store (building C) was added in 1886 as a bombproof component to the fort. The store is executed in unreinforced brick concrete and was incorporated into the earthen rampart and also covered with earth. On either side of the only visible facade (west-northwest, throat side) a concrete retaining wall was constructed, in which niches for privy and shelter. The interior consists mainly of one space with a vaulted arch. In 1933 plans were made for new strengthening of the fort by construction of a casemate. For this purpose the left retaining wall of the store was demolished: the casemate came to lie against the existing store. The reinforced concrete casemate for two gun embrasures was built in 1934-1935 and is provided on the front side with heavy steel armour plates which came from the former naval vessel H.M. Tromp, demolished in 1927. The curved dome-shaped armour lies behind a recess in the covering concrete and earth body and is provided with two relatively small, rectangular embrasures. Unique was the armament with a combination of cannon and machine-gun. The reinforced concrete casemate, built partly according to VIS 77, has steel access doors in the otherwise flush facade on the throat side. On the left in the facade a relief with: "Kijkuit 1935". The casemate has two storeys, each divided into several spaces. In the interior the fixings of the armament are still present.

Valuation

The MACHINE-GUN AND CANNON CASEMATE/ANNEX STORE on Fort Kijkuit is 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 realised by him, Jan Blanken and major-engineer Willem Offerhaus and subsequently by others strengthened and improved for approximately 125 years.

* Architectural-historical values, in particular as an expression of military-strategic architecture, which is based on the system of:

a. the system of inundation and access defence (19th and 20th century),

b. the arms race with increasingly powerful offensive means (20th century)

c. the system of 'living' field fortification in depth (20th century)

This concerns a component from 1934-1935, which is an example of a reinforced concrete and armour-plated machine-gun and cannon casemate of exceptional type.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie in general and because of the mutual functional, functionally-spatial and physical coherence with the other components of the complex and in particular with the access of the approximately contemporaneously laid out Provincial Road Hilversum-Haarlem and the Hilversumsch Canal.

* The component is unique as an example of a VIS 77-casemate with a (reused) steel front armour with a combined function at that time as combined emplacement for machine-gun and cannon.

* The component is reasonably intact and well preserved and can be clearly recognised in the field as a constructed component.