Fort near Rijnauwen | World Heritage the Dutch Waterlines - Bunnik

UNESCO World Heritage The Dutch Waterlines tells the story of the strategic use of water in the defence of the Netherlands. The water lines were also called the secret weapon of the Netherlands.

Secret weapon
In a waterline, water is used to stop the enemy. A system of locks, dykes, canals, rivers and pumping stations ensured that entire polders could be flooded. The layer of water was only 40 to 50 centimetres. This was too deep to walk and too shallow to sail. At vulnerable points, forts were built for extra protection. Many of these forts can be visited.

In 2021, UNESCO World Heritage The Stelling van Amsterdam (World Heritage since 1996) will be expanded with the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie to complete the picture of the Waterlinies as one World Heritage Site - the Dutch Waterlines.

Fort near Rijnauwen is historically unique due to its building style and flawlessness. Nature has also been able to develop here, making it a paradise for rare animals and plants.

The fortress can only be visited during guided tours and events such as Open Monuments Days. The guided tours (from 10 years of age) with a forester from the Dutch Forestry Commission take place between 1 April and 1 October. Regular tours are on Wednesday at 10.30 am and Saturday at 1.30 pm (two and a half hours), on Sunday there is a family tour at 10.30 am. This lasts one and a half hours. It is not possible to make a reservation for this tour. A guided tour of the fort can be combined with a visit to the Waterliniemuseum Fort bij Vechten, which is at walking distance from the fort.

Want to visit other parts of the Dutch Waterline? Go to: www.stellingvanamsterdam.nl or https://nieuwehollandsewaterlinie.nl