oa ‘Ons nationale verdedigingsmiddel’

‘Our national defense tool’. Water and defense lines, 1800-1940

Water has played an important role in Dutch history since the 16th century. In the struggle against the Spanish king (1568-1648) it proved an effective tool, especially in the sieges of cities. In 1672-1673, a long line of flooded polders blocked Louis XIV’s advance into the heart of the country. This successful operation became legendary and laid the foundations for the idea of water as ‘national defense’. In the 19th and early 20th centuries in particular, this role of water played was essential in the nationalist narrative. It represented a unique form of defensive strength for a small country and could easily be linked to the important role played by the Orange family in maintaining the country’s independence. At the same time, military and political leaders debated which part of the country should be protected by water, and criticized the concept of an extensive, and expensive water line. One alternative was to put more emphasis on fighting in the polders. This was a form of territorial defense sometimes called ‘guerrilla’ in analogy to the Boer struggle in South Africa. It would have required major changes to the existing army organization. This did not happen. However, spending on water lines was curtailed. It even came to an almost complete standstill after 1920. Despite its fame in the national narrative, waterlines played a limited role in the German invasion of 1940.