Fortress Nieuwersluis
History of the fortress
As early as 1673, the site of the current fortress contained a fortification to guard the strategically important sluice gate in the River Vecht. During the 19th century, Fort Nieuwersluis became part of the New Dutch Waterline, which protected the cities in the provinces of Utrecht and Holland. In the middle of the century, a tower fortress was built. Earthen walls, gun emplacements, a bombproof barracks and three artillery shelters were added later, around 1880.
During the Cold War, the fortress was used as a command post by the civil defence organisation of the Netherlands (BB). Old wall maps now serve as a memento of this period. After 1987, the fortress was for a time a command post of the Dutch Military Mobile Column (KMC).
Flora and fauna around the fortress
As sand wa…
History of the fortress
As early as 1673, the site of the current fortress contained a fortification to guard the strategically important sluice gate in the River Vecht. During the 19th century, Fort Nieuwersluis became part of the New Dutch Waterline, which protected the cities in the provinces of Utrecht and Holland. In the middle of the century, a tower fortress was built. Earthen walls, gun emplacements, a bombproof barracks and three artillery shelters were added later, around 1880.
During the Cold War, the fortress was used as a command post by the civil defence organisation of the Netherlands (BB). Old wall maps now serve as a memento of this period. After 1987, the fortress was for a time a command post of the Dutch Military Mobile Column (KMC).
Flora and fauna around the fortress
As sand was used in the foundation of the fortress, the area contains unusual plants, such as Star-of-Bethlehem, wild garlic and brown knapweed. You will also see many hawthorn bushes here, which were planted to serve as ‘barbed wire’. Pollard willows line the edge of the fortress. Their roots held the earthen walls together and withies were used as firewood in the kitchen.
The tower fortress is a beautiful wintering place for bats, including the rare whiskered bat.
Visiting the fortress
Fort Nieuwersluis can be visited on excursions and on Open Monuments Day.