Fort, vesting en -onderdelen, Batterij onder Poederoijen

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

Cluster 77.

NEW HOLLAND WATER LINE

Introduction

BATTERY INSTALLATION AND EARTHWORKS, (REMAINS OF) CONCRETE BREASTWORK, WET MOAT WITH OUTER BANKS AND PART OF DIVERSION ROAD AND WITH ZONE MARKED BY BOUNDARY POSTS as basic elements of the Battery under Poederoijen. Forts were usually constructed on the basis of pre-positioned earth bodies which served as a foundation and prevented subsidence in (a wet and soft) soil. In the construction of the forts, besides this usually already tactically 'pre-formed' earth body - which could itself already play a defensive role - a specific installation was also realised which was intended to increase defensive strength, ensure the safety of the garrison and facilitate internal and external transport and traffic. In this way, among other things, earth coverings were created for various structures to make them less vulnerable to hostile gunfire, earth ramparts that covered buildings and open areas and determined the contours, and paved paths and parade grounds.

Forts were usually surrounded by one or more wet or dry moats to prevent possible approach to the fortification or fort grounds for as long as possible. The forts were usually only accessible via one or more bridges or via a narrow isthmus. Where for hydraulic or other reasons a permanent direct connection between interior and exterior existed, it was constructed in such a way that it could not or only with the greatest difficulty be crossed. The use of so-called chevaux-de-frise, monks (especially at fortifications) and/or palisades was customary for this purpose. Along the outside of the moats there was often a road or path, which could be constructed in the form of a covered way, but also at ground level or even above ground level. These roads or paths could have various 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 zone (from of old and still in part) marked with boundary posts as such over which the Ministry of War had authority. The Battery under Poederoijen was no exception to this principle, but serious problems were encountered in the construction of the earth body, which subsided considerably due to the soft subsoil. Partly as a result of this, it was executed smaller than originally intended and was not provided with a rampart on the gorge side. The fort was formerly accessible via a bridge over the moat on the west side. This bridge is still present, but has been functionally replaced by a dam. A partial restoration since 2008 has resulted in the installation and components being consolidated.

Description

The BATTERY INSTALLATION AND EARTHWORKS, (REMAINS OF) CONCRETE BREASTWORK, WET MOAT WITH OUTER BANKS AND PART OF DIVERSION ROAD AND WITH ZONE MARKED BY BOUNDARY POSTS of the Battery under Poederoijen, consisting mainly of a roughly oval, asymmetrical earthwork, of which the gorge side has a relatively straight course and the outer slope has rounded forms, resulting in a ground plan that resembles the capital letter 'D'. The partly levelled earthworks and remains of a concrete breastwork still recall the former enclosure of the fort grounds or terreplein. The centrally located bomb-proof building is covered by earthworks and has two protruding wings which together with the main facade form a sort of forecourt. The battery installation dates from the period 1879-1886. The battery was built at the north side of the Noorder Maasdijk at that time to block access from the (Dammed) Maas and as a defence of inundation sluices in the Nieuwendijk and later also the (lock) sluices in the Afsluitdijk. The associated field of fire is still clearly recognisable. The moat of the Battery under Poederoijen is partly silted up, but is clearly recognisable as such and forms a spacious frame around the fort installation. Around the moat lies a clearly recognisable glacis with maintenance path. 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 belonging to this document.

Valuation

The BATTERY INSTALLATION AND EARTHWORKS, (REMAINS OF) CONCRETE BREASTWORK, WET MOAT WITH OUTER BANKS AND PART OF DIVERSION ROAD AND WITH ZONE MARKED BY BOUNDARY POSTS of the Battery under Poederoijen is of general importance because of:

* Cultural-historical values as part of the New Holland Water Line as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and first realised from 1815 by him, Jan Blanken and major-engineer Willem Offerhaus and subsequently strengthened and improved by others for more than 125 years.

* Architectural-historical values in particular as an expression of military-strategic architecture, which is based on: a. the system of inundation and access defence (19th century), b. the race with increasingly powerful offensive means (19th century).

The component is an example of an earth installation, on which a bomb-proof structure with earth covering, and furthermore a moat with diversion road and military zone marked by means of boundary posts from the period 1879-1886.

* Ensemble value and situational values through its location within the system of the New Holland Water Line in general and in particular through the highly intact relationship with the field of fire.

* The component is representative because it shows access defence and defence of inundation and other sluice works in a largely undisturbed physical environment.

* The component is reasonably well preserved because the ground plan, the moat and the maintenance path have been well preserved and remain clearly recognisable.