Fortifications on Hollands Diep and Volkerak
The fortifications on Hollands Diep and Volkerak consisted of a number of defensive structures. They were located where Hollands Diep , Volkerak and Haringvliet meet. The facilities served to repel attacks on southern Holland. They also protect the water connection between Holland and Zealand. The older of the systems date from the time of the Anglo-Dutch naval wars .
There were new buildings in the era of Napoleon . At that time, they were also used to host troops returning from Brabant . A large part of these facilities still exists today.
The fortifications are all on or near the Hollands Diep and the Volkerak.
Buildings
The fortifications essentially consisted of the following parts:
- Willemstad fortress
- Fort De Hel (formerly Fort Anna from 1748 and Fort L´Enfer from 1811 to 1813)
- Fort in Sabrina Hendrik Polder (formerly Fort De Ruyter from 1810, to defend the Volkerak)
- Fort Duquesne (from 1811, named after Admiral Du Quesne , who fought against Michiel de Ruyter in the Battle of Etna , from 1813 Fort Prince Frederik zu Ooltgensplaat on Overflakke )
- Fort Bovensluis (upper lock) 1861, formerly Fort Haaren
- Fort Buitensluis (outer lock) at Numansdorp 1793
This defense was built on the basis of the Fortification Act of 1874.
as well as the older system:
- Fort Ooltgensplaat (1568–1811)