The Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie Is a 3 to 5 kilometre wide inundation zone stretching approximately 70 kilometres from Muiden (situated on the IJsselmeer), past the city of Utrecht towards the east, down to the large river district ; and the Biesbosch.
Up until 1940 it was the main defence line of the Dutch defence system aimed at defending the western part of the country against any attacks coming from the east and the south. An inundation line consists of a cleverly linked chain of inundation fields (approximately 35 to 50 centimetres high) and natural waters. The system consisted of 6 what is termed inundation basins, which could be regulated by dikes, culverts, canals, fan locks, dams and sluices.
A system of defences, such as forts (covering 2 hectares to 32 hectares) was located at the accesses to the inundations, e.g. near higher roads, or where the inundations could be traversed via existing dikes, lakes or rivers and wherever it was necessary to protect the inundation facilities. There were more than 60 defences of varying types in this Inundation Line. Planting of the defences was strictly regulated. The permanent defences varied from simple earthworks without permanent buildings to earth defences with brick turrets, 'turret forts', bomb-proof barracks, guardhouses, casemates and bomb-proof shelters for artillery. A few older fortified towns (Muiden, Naarden, Weesp, Gorinchem, Woudrichem) were also a part of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie.
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