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New Water-Line

In the nineteenth century the New Water Line, to the east of Utrecht, was created as the main line of defense. As the name indicates, the line ran in a somewhat different course to that of the old days and thereby gained in strength. The New Waterline was the main line of defence against attack on the land side. It extended from Muiden on the Zuider Zee, by Utrecht, to Vreeswijk on the Lek; from thence along the Diefdijk and the Zuider Liugedijk, by Asperen, to Gorinchem on the Merwede, and from the Merwede, across the land of Altena to the Nieuwe Merwede. Its north flank is thus supported on the Zuider Zee, and its south flank on the Nieuwe Merwede, the Hollandsch Diep and other arras of the sea. Its front is covered by an almost continuous chain of broad inundations, with permanent works on the roads and approaches. Its length, measured along the rear of the line, was 41 miles.

The particular strength of this system is derived from the peculiarity of a large part of Dutch territory. Great portions, of the western provinces especially, lie below the high tide of the rivers and surrounding seas, and having been at regular intervals inundated, were for the most part unfit for habitation or cultivation. Most of these marshlands and lakes have been reclaimed during the past centuries by a system of drainage known under the name of "inpoldering."

A protective dike is first built around the territory to be reclaimed, after which the pumping out of the water is proceeded with. This necessitates an ingenious system of canals and reservoirs, as often the water has to be conducted to a series of such reservoirs, each at a little higher level, until a river system is reached, into which the water can, at the proper moment, be finally passed. This same arrangement remains necessary after the work is completed, to maintain normal conditions in the reclaimed area, called a "polder," now dry land, and often as much as twenty feet below the high tide of the neighboring rivers.

The condition which can be brought about when that defensive line is made ready for action is simply a reversal of the usual process that will then take place. From the rivers, and in case of an unusual drought from the nearby sea, water is let into certain canals through the regulating sluices in order to raise the water level till an inundation of a desired area, stretching itself just before the above described line of fortified places, is accomplished, without penetrating, however, the territory behind the line, of the same nature and equally low, but properly protected.

The whole operation can be performed in the short space of a few days, and this, independent of the height of the surrounding tide, which was not the case in olden times. In order to obtain this independence and the proper control of the depth of the inundation, additional works had to be erected besides those already in existence for the ordinary use of drainage.

The inundations are divided almost perpendicularly into 4 large sections by the Lek, the Waal with the Merwede, and the Maas. These are :

1. The part between the Zuider Zee and the Lek was divided into 4 basins. Of these the 1st is again divided into 2 parts, the first of which is supplied with water from the sea by a sluice at Muiden, and the second from the Lek by a sluice at Vreeswijk. The breadth of the basin is from 4,375 to 6,560 yards. The 2nd basin is supplied with water by the Lek, and the water is discharged tbyough a sluice at Utrecht. Its breadth is .3,828 yards. The 3rd basin is very small. It is inundated in the same way as the 2nd, but is independent of it. The 4th basin is divided into 2 parts, of which the northern part is fed from the Lek, and the southern from the Lek also, but by a sluice at Honswijk. Its breadth varies from 1,650 to 6,560 yards. The time required to complete the inundation varies from 4 to 13 clays, according to the water level at Honswijk.
2. The part between the Lek and the Waal is divided into 3 basins, which arc fed by the Lek, the Linge and the Waal. The breadth in parts is as much as 7,600 yards. The time required to supply the inundations with water is about the same as in the first section.
3. The part between the Waal and the Maas is filled from the Maas through 3 sluices, and the inundation level being only 2 inches below the average level of the Maas, the formation of the inundation is attended with great difficulties, and at times is impossible.
4. The part south of the Merwede is divided into 2 basins, the easternmost of which is fed by the Maas, through a sluice above Woudrichem, and the other by the Bakkerskil. The breadth of the inundation varies from 1,100 to 3,828 yards.

There was little chance of an enemy being able to draw off the water from any of the inundations of the position, though he might do damage of secondary importance to some of the basins. It would be easy, also, to prevent the inundations from becoming navigable by letting off some of the water, which can be conveniently done behind the position. This defense system was completed by the fortifications of the Holland Deep, Volkerak, and Haringvliet, all broad stretches of water, while an approach from the sea is guarded against by the coast defenses, consisting mainly of the fortifications of the mouths of the Maas and the fortress of Den Helder at the extreme northern point of the mainland of the provinces of North Holland. The Hook of Holland and the harbor of Ymuiden, at which points the sea canals of Rotterdam and Amsterdam terminate, are equally protected. These are the only available entrances on the Dutch coast for large ships, with the exception of the route along Flushing and the Wester Scheld to Antwerp, for the defense of which (lying, however, outside the protected area) fortifications are to be found, mainly around Flushing. The entire North Sea coast of Holland is sandy beach and is protected by practically an interrupted line of sand dunes, stretching a few miles inland. This explains the absence of other than mere fishing harbors. The ocean here is so shallow that ships cannot approach the coast, and navigation is only possible several miles off shore.

At the northern end the New Holland Water-Line met the second defensive system of the country, the fortress of Amsterdam. This is the section selected for a last stand, when the former more extensive line has become untenable. Everything else is then abandoned, the whole country left to the enemy, while all the remaining forces concentrate in this position. The method used here is based exactly on the same principle, the obstructing line of water forming in this case a complete circle, intersected again by the communication routes. The Zuiderzee forms the water barrier on the eastern side, while inundation is applied everywhere else. The fortification runs as follows: From the Zuiderzee at Edam to Uitgeest, then southward to the east of Beverwyk, Velzen and Haarlem, from there through the Haarlempolder, formerly the Haarlem lake, in the direction of Aalsmeer and Abcoude, finally through Weesp to the Zuiderzee (see map).

In 1939 was suddenly decided, to organize the main defense against the Germans in the Grebbe defense line, that was situated more to the east. Immediately all work in the Dutch Water Line was seized and all effort concentrated on the Grebbe line and other defense lines more to the east.