the defence line of amsterdam

The Defence Line of Amsterdam was placed on the World Heritage List in 1996. This 135 km-long line of defence encircling the capital city, buttressed by 46 forts, showed the dogged determination of the Dutch to defend themselves when necessary. Constructed between 1883 and 1920, water management and control played an important role in its design: the defence line could be operationalised within 48 hours by flooding the surrouding areas. These flooded areas, together with the forts would form a formidable obstacle to any invader. However even during its contruction, the invention of the aeroplane and long-range artillery rendered the defence line obsolate. Nevertheless, the forts and the infrastructure were left in place, largely in their original state. The Defence Line of Amsterdam is therefore a unique historic example of defence and water-management technology.

For more information about the history of the Defence Line of Amsterdam, see www.stelling-amsterdam.nl/english.