World Heritage Photos

The Dutch Water Defence Lines form a complete defence system that extends over a length of 200 km along the edge of the economic and administrative heartland of the Netherlands. It consists of the New Dutch Water Line and the Defence Line of Amsterdam, a UNESCO World Heritage since 1996. The New Dutch Water Line stretches from the fortified town of Muiden in the north to the wetlands of the Biesbosch in the south, also included are the Werk IV close to Bussum to protect the fortified town of Naarden, the three km long Tiel Inundation Canal and Ford Pannerden, one of the most important forts of the defence line, situated more than 60 km from the main defence line. From 1629-1815, the Dutch Water Line protected the western part of the Netherlands agains intruders by a network of fortresses, waterworks, natural bodies of water, canals and polders, that could be inundated when the Netherlands was approached by an enemy. After 1815, the Dutch Water Line was modified and extended and was renamed the New Dutch Water Line, the defence line was extended to include the city of Utrecht and existing forts were fitted with bomb-proof bunkers. The New Dutch Water Line is 85 km long and three to five km wide, it remained in use until Germany invaded the Netherlands in 1940. The New Dutch Water Line was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 2021, this line, together with the Defence Line of Amsterdam, forms the UNESCO World Heritage: Dutch Water Defence Lines.

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   New Dutch Water Line: Since 2015, the Fort bij Vechten houses the National Waterline Museum: The museum tells the history of the 300-year old Dutch Water Line. One of the highlights inside the huge fortress is a 54 metres long open-air model of the New Dutch Water Line, with the help of tiny sluice gates, the concrete scale model can be inundated by visitors. The New Dutch Water Line is part of the UNESCO World Heritage: Dutch Water Defence Lines.

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   New Dutch Water Line - National Waterline Museum at Fort bij Vechten: The fortress consists of shellproof bunkers and military barracks, flank batteries and guard buildings. The invention of the aeroplane and long range weapons rendered the New Dutch Water Line obsolete. The New Dutch Water Line is now the largest national monument of the Netherlands.

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   New Dutch Water Line - National Waterline Museum at Fort bij Vechten: A thick layer of earth was used to reinforce and camouflage Fort bij Vechten. The fort is completely surrounded by a broad moat filled with water. Since 2015, visitors can enter the fort via a bridge across the moat.

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   Dutch Water Defence Lines: The original concrete bunkers of Fort bij Vechten are hidden under a layer of earth and overgrown with grass and other vegetation, a perfect camouflage. Fort bij Vechten is one of the forts of the New Dutch Water Line. The Dutch Water Line was constructed in the 17th century to protect the western part of the Netherlands from invading French troops.

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   Dutch Water Defence Lines - National Waterline Museum at Fort bij Vechten: Fort bij Vechten is one of the largest and most beautiful fortresses of the New Dutch Water Line. The fortress was constructed in the period 1867-1870, it consists of sixteen brick buildings. More than 16 million bricks were used in the construction of the fort.

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   Dutch Water Defence Lines - New Dutch Water Line: Due to its isolated location, Fort bij Vechten is host to a large number of rare and endangered plants and animal species.

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   Dutch Water Defence Lines: Fort bij Vechten is one of the forts of the New Dutch Water Line, the water defence line consists of 46 forts and six fortified towns, surrounded by waterworks, canals and natural water bodies, and polder areas that could be inundated, temporary flooding, to turn the western provinces into an island when the Netherlands was approached by an enemy.

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   Dutch Water Defence Lines: The National Waterline Museum at Fort bij Vechten, part of the New Dutch Water Line. Since 2015, the fort is a museum and recreation area, at the left hand side the newly created entrance for visitors. The 1,5 metres wide entrance pathway cuts through the six metres high defence mounds.