Fort, vesting en -onderdelen, Nieuwe Steeg bij 74

English translation

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Description

Cluster 70.

NEW HOLLANDSE WATERLINIE

Introduction

FORT EARTHWORKS AND FORTIFICATIONS, CONTAINING REMAINS OF GUN EMPLACEMENT POSITIONS, (RELICS OF) CONCRETE BREASTWORKS, WET MOAT WITH OUTER BANKS, WITH (BYPASS AND MAINTENANCE) ROADS AND WITH A ZONE MARKED BY BOUNDARY POSTS (WHICH ALSO INCLUDES THE ACCESS ROAD - the Nieuwe Steeg) as basic elements of the Fort at the Nieuwe Steeg. The Fort at the Nieuwe Steeg is one of the forts belonging to the New Hollandse Waterlinie which are equipped with characteristic earthen and earth-joined components. Forts and comparable works were usually constructed on the basis of pre-formed earth bodies, which functioned as a foundation and were intended to prevent subsidence in (a wet and soft) soil. In the construction of the works, besides this usually tactically 'pre-formed' earth body - which in itself already fulfilled or could fulfil a defensive role - a specific layout was also realised which was intended to increase defensive strength, ensure the safety of the garrison and facilitate internal and external transport and traffic. Thus, among other things, earth coverings were created for various structures to make them less vulnerable to enemy fire, earth ramparts that protected the buildings and open areas and determined contours, covered approaches, paved paths and parade grounds. The earthworks were constructed in greatly differing ground plans, often with one or more bastions, which could also differ in form. Around the earth body came - where possible - a wet moat, while the works were usually surrounded by a military boundary, which was marked with boundary posts. Over the moat usually lay a (moveable) bridge - different types occur - but sometimes there was a fixed bank connection, for example in the form of a dam, which could form part of the road system. Along the outside of the moats there was often a road or path, which could be laid both in the form of a covered way, as well as level with or even above ground level. These roads or paths could have different functions, ranging from public road to maintenance path, and also from military covered way to exclusive access road to the fort. Outside the wet moat there is moreover often a (historically and still in part) zone marked with boundary posts as such, over which the Ministry of War had authority, the Military Crown Land. The Fort at the Nieuwe Steeg does not differ in principle from this general picture. Particularly striking is the earth-covered barracks building with two opposite wings. During the restoration and conversion of the fort, the earthworks were also undertaken and largely restored. Wooden stairs, gates etc. were also installed.

Description

FORT EARTHWORKS AND FORTIFICATIONS, CONTAINING REMAINS OF GUN EMPLACEMENT POSITIONS, (RELICS OF) CONCRETE BREASTWORKS, WET MOAT WITH OUTER BANKS, WITH (BYPASS AND MAINTENANCE) ROADS AND WITH A ZONE MARKED BY BOUNDARY POSTS (WHICH ALSO INCLUDES THE ACCESS ROAD - the Nieuwe Steeg) of the FORT AT THE NIEUWE STEEG. The Fort at the Nieuwe Steeg was built in the period 1877-1880 and was improved and/or extended around 1885 and 1939-1940. It consists essentially of an approximately trapezoidal earth body with a bastion at each corner. However, the ground plan is not exactly symmetrical. Relatively low earthworks completely enclose the open fort parade ground or terreplein, while the bomb-proof structures located within the fort are covered by earth works reaching considerably higher in parts. There are (remains of) two concrete gun breastworks, one of which is in reasonably good condition. Particularly striking is the earth-covered barracks, which consists of two parallel wings approximately four metres apart from each other, which are connected to each other on the east side and are also covered by earth there. There is still a limited amount of paved surface: on the access road, on the brick parade ground between the two barracks wings and at a number of (bomb-proof) buildings. Particularly striking is that the access road is integrally part of the Military Crown Land. This section of the Military Crown Land comprises the approximately north-south running Nieuwe Steeg itself, approximately 450 m. long, including the verge ditches, a narrow (supply) canal for the fort moat, which are situated within a narrow strip from the Lingedijk to the Teindweg. The moat of the Fort at the Nieuwe Steeg is still complete and forms a spacious frame around the fort layout. Along almost the entire wet moat there are remains of a narrow maintenance path at quay level. The moat had a connection on the north side via a small ditch to the Linge, but no remains or traces of an inundation or check sluice have been found, although they may well be present in the soil. Through tree felling and maintenance and restoration of the earthworks, the fort is now clearly recognizable. The zone originally marked with boundary posts as such, over which the Ministry of War had authority, the Military Crown Land, is indicated on the map accompanying this document.

Valuation

FORT EARTHWORKS AND FORTIFICATIONS, CONTAINING REMAINS OF GUN EMPLACEMENT POSITIONS, (RELICS OF) CONCRETE BREASTWORKS, WET MOAT WITH OUTER BANKS, WITH (BYPASS AND MAINTENANCE) ROADS AND WITH A ZONE MARKED BY BOUNDARY POSTS (WHICH ALSO INCLUDES THE ACCESS ROAD - the Nieuwe Steeg) of the Fort at the Nieuwe Steeg are of general interest because of:

* Cultural-historical values as part of the New Hollandse Waterlinie as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and initially constructed 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 building design, which is based on: a. the system of inundation and access defence (19th century), b. the race with increasingly powerful offensive means (19th and 20th centuries).

This is a work which in its initial layout is an example of a fort constructed from earthworks which came into being in the context of the forward defence of an access and inundation works and which dates from the years 1876-1880, 1885 and the years 1939-1940.

* Ensemble value and situational values because of its location within the system of the New Hollandse Waterlinie in general and in particular in the direct relation to the inundation sluices at Asperen. Also because of the functional and physical coherence between the components of the complex. Finally, there is here a well-preserved relationship of the earthworks with the field of fire.

* The complex component is representative (characteristic) because it still displays its own physical characteristics and the most important environmental characteristics that gave rise to its construction at that time.

* The complex component is well-preserved because in terms of structure and physical appearance several main aspects of the condition in the 1880s are retained.