Oosterhout, Geertruidenberg, Terheijden

The Zuiderwaterlinie is the oldest and longest water line in the Netherlands, stretching from Bergen op Zoom to Grave. Built in the 16th and 17th centuries, this defence line used inundation: the controlled flooding of land to slow down or stop enemy troops. The line connects 11 fortified towns in Brabant and includes a network of forts, entrenchments and sluices, making it a unique historical and military heritage.

Near Terheijden are the Spinolaschans and the Kleine Schans, both important parts of the Zuiderwaterlinie. Built in 1624 by Spanish general Ambrogio Spinola during the Siege of Breda, the Spinolaschans served to seal off the city and prevent the supply of food and reinforcements. After Breda's surrender, the entrenchment was dismantled but later rebuilt by Frederik Hendrik in 1637. The Kleine Schans, built in 1639, protected shipping on the river Mark and the connection between Breda and Moerdijk. Today, both entrenchments are restored and open to the public, with walking paths and information boards explaining their rich history.

The fortified town of Geertruidenberg is one of the oldest and most strategic towns within the Zuiderwaterlinie. Located on the Biesbosch and the river Donge, the town played a crucial role in defending Brabant and controlling the surrounding waterways. The city was fortified in the 16th and 17th centuries with impressive fortifications, including bastions, ravelins and moats, designed by fortress builders such as Menno van Coehoorn. These fortifications made Geertruidenberg an important stronghold against invasions, especially during the Eighty Years' War and the wars with France. Today, many of the original fortress structures are still intact, and the historic core, with its beautiful market square and old buildings, reflects the town's rich military and cultural history within the Zuiderwaterlinie.