| Stelling van Amsterdam | |
|---|---|
| Netherlands | |
.jpg) Fort bij Spijkerboor (in 2015) | |
| Site information | |
| Website | Official website |
| Location | |
 | |
| Official name | Dutch Water Defence Lines |
| Location | North Holland,Utrecht,Netherlands |
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii), (iv), (v) |
| Reference | 759bis |
| Inscription | 1996 (20thSession) |
| Extensions | 2021 |
TheStelling van Amsterdam (pronounced[ˈstɛlɪŋvɑnˌɑmstərˈdɑm]; "Defence Line of Amsterdam") is a 135-kilometre (84 mi)fortification line aroundAmsterdam, which would function as anational redoubt. It comprises 45forts, as well asdams,dikes,locks,pumping stations,batteries andcasemates.[1] The forts are 10–15 kilometres (6.2–9.3 mi) from the centre and lowlands, which can easily beinundated in time of war. The inundation was designed to give a depth of about 30 centimetres (12 in), too little for boats to cross. Any buildings within 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) of the line had to be made of wood so that they could be burnt and the obstruction removed.
TheStelling van Amsterdam was constructed between 1880 and 1920. The Stelling was mobilised and partially inundated during theFirst World War, but theNetherlands remained neutral and was not invaded. In 1922, the Stelling became part of theFortress Holland [nl]. The north side of the Stelling was inundated whenGermany invaded in 1940 at the start of theSecond World War, but the Netherlands capitulated before the Germans reached the Stelling.
It is part of theUNESCOWorld Heritage SiteDutch Water Defence Lines.
A combination of inundation andposts to protect Amsterdam date back as far as 1629, when these were prepared against a planned but later cancelled attack from the south by the Spanish generalErnesto Montecuccoli during theEighty Years' War. Another water defence line was prepared in the south in 1672, theRampjaar, but the invaders failed to get past theOld Dutch Waterline. In June 1787, 27 posts were created by thePatriots and on 18 September 1787, the surrounding polders were inundated. These posts held back thePrussian invasion, but the Prussians managed to get access through theHaarlemmermeer and successfully attacked the posts from behind.[2]
When theEnglish invaded Holland in 1799, a water defence line was created north of Amsterdam, led by engineerCornelis Krayenhoff. In 1800, theLine of Beverwijk [nl] was created led by Krayenhoff to the west of Amsterdam, fearing another invasion by England. When the threat had decreased the next year, the posts were neglected. In 1805, Krayenhoff was tasked with creating a new defence line, because KingLouis Bonaparte feared annexation by theFirst French Empire. The posts would be built in 1809 and 1810 at a distance of 8-12 km from the city, and would become known as thePosts of Krayenhoff. TheIncorporation of the Netherlands in 1810 was peaceful, so the posts were not used. Plans were made to improve the posts, but they were never executed because of theliberation of the Netherlands in 1813. In the following decades, new forts would be added to the Posts of Krayenhoff in thepoldered Haarlemmermeer:Fort near Heemstede,Fort along Schiphol,Fort along the Liede,Fort along the Nieuwe Meer.[2]
TheStelling van Amsterdam was primarily a defensive water line (Dutch:waterlinie). In the event of an enemy attack, large tracts of land around Amsterdam would be inundated with water, preventing the enemy from advancing. Amsterdam would function as anational redoubt orreduit, as the last stronghold of theNetherlands. Forts were built in which roads, railways or dikes crossed through the water line. At such locations, there would be no water to stop the enemy and so the forts were intended to shell the enemy.
The law for the construction of theStelling van Amsterdam was passed in 1874, a few years after theUnification of Germany, which placed a powerful newgreat power on the eastern border of the Netherlands. During the planning prior to its construction, the design was already obviously outdated by modern technical advances. The invention of thehigh-explosive shell and thepercussion fuze, which allowed ordnance to explode on impact and dislodge brick fortifications easily, necessitated a change frommasonry toconcrete forts. The Dutch did not have the required experience yet using and building with concrete and so extensive tests had to be performed. Concrete structures were shelled with the heaviest artillery available at that time. Further delays resulted from the fact that the sand foundations had to settle for several years before the forts could be built on them. Only in 1897 could the actual construction finally begin.
The Stelling van Amsterdam has never seen combat service and the use of aircraft rendered it obsolete after World War I. It was, however, maintained and kept in service until it was decommissioned in 1963.
The dike through theHaarlemmermeer, which made it possible to inundate the southern portion of thepolder while the northern portion could continue to produce food for Amsterdam, is now cut by theA4 motorway. The motorway also goes under theRingvaart atRoelofarendsveen, which makes the inundation of the Haarlemmermeer Polder and thus the future use of the Stelling no longer possible.
In 1996, the complete Stelling was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was extended in 2021 with theNew Dutch Waterline to form theDutch Water Defence Lines.
