Fort, vesting en -onderdelen, Betonnen werken omgeving Fort bij Tienhoven Tienhoven (Stichtse Vecht 26)

English translation

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Description

Cluster 21. Tank Barrier.

NEW HOLLANDSE WATERLINIE Introduction

TANK BARRIER as part of an access defence on the Nieuweweg, a dike body in the midst of a lake region. The construction of obstacles to hinder or delay the advance of enemy troops has a long history. Important artificial obstacles have long included ditches, water lines, felled trees and disabled bridges. With the rise of mechanical (such as the steam train) and motorized (armoured vehicles and tanks) transport, even heavier materials have been deployed, including steel and (reinforced) concrete barriers. One of the systems applied from the mid-1930s onwards consisted of diagonally upright and pointed steel H-section beams, which not only greatly impeded the passage of such vehicles, but could also inflict heavy damage on them. Such obstacles were assembled from either one (Type I) or two rows (Type II) of section beams. Tank obstacles were usually constructed from interconnected systems of barriers, in which, besides water (e.g. anti-tank ditches, permanent lakes or inundations), concrete and steel constructions (the actual tank barriers) also slowed progress. Another obstacle was the tetrahedron - a movable triangular concrete block that could also be applied in groups (additionally) at checkpoints and bridges. The Dutch army made use of anti-tank ditches and tank barriers in the form of concrete blocks with diagonally placed steel section beams in the New Hollandse Waterlinie on the eve of the Second World War. The number of tank barriers constructed in the Hollandse Waterlinie is not known; around the year 2000 approximately 10 were still recognisably present, of which 1 was complete. The remains of the tank barrier on the Nieuweweg are located approximately 300 m east of the Fort bij Tienhoven. The barrier could be defended, among other ways, from the fort (frontally). The remains of the barrier were not visible until 2009 or 2010 - except indirectly, due to damage and damage repairs to the road at that location - but they have resurfaced with the felling of trees.

Description

Reinforced concrete remains of a TANK BARRIER on the Nieuweweg, which together with the adjacent lake region and the Tienhovense Vaart formed a tank obstacle. The concrete block of the tank barrier dates from shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. It is a reinforced cast concrete block incorporated in both the carriageway and the verges, which is particularly recognisable on the north side of the road. Due to asphalting, most of it is now not visible, but the recurring (impact) damage to the road surface is the result of the presence of the concrete block.

Valuation

The remains of the TANK BARRIER on the Nieuweweg east of the Fort bij Tienhoven are of general importance because of:

* Cultural-historical values as components of the New Hollandse Waterlinie 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, in particular as an expression of military-strategic engineering, which is based on: a. the system of inundation and access defence (19th and 20th centuries), b. the race with increasingly strengthened offensive means (20th century) c. the system of 'living' field fortification in depth (20th century)

The components are examples of (anti)tank ditches specially constructed and/or designed for defence against assault vehicles and/or tanks with, at road accesses, reinforced concrete, cast iron and steel barriers, which together formed part of a linear obstacle.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the New Hollandse Waterlinie. Also because of the functional and physical coherence with the other components of the complex and in particular as physical barriers forming part of a linear system in the access of the Houtense Vlakte.

* Tank barriers have become fairly rare and these remains are representative because they have remained recognisable in their physical context and coherence.

* The remains are moderately well preserved, because the concrete mass is now only partially perceptible, but is recognisable in situ.