Former Floodgate in the Linge

The former floodgate made it possible to retain the east-west flowing Lingewater. This allowed the area in front of the Liniedijk to be flooded.

The sluice and the adjacent hornworks were part of the defensive line that was constructed in 1799-1800.
During the 19th century, the Line was never threatened: our country managed to stay out of European political conflicts. After a large part of the Liniedijk was excavated in the 1920s and 1930s, it had to be restored during the mobilisation of 1939. Hostilities were expected from the east.
In May 1940, German forces invaded our country and an attack was launched on the Dutch positions on the Waaldijk. The area in front of the lock was flooded, making it impossible for the attackers to capture this section of the Line dyke with the lock.

Around 1952, most of the Line was excavated. The Linge was shifted slightly to the north, so that the lock now lies in the meadow. The remains of the lock and the hornwork at the Spees are the last remnants of an effective line of defence.

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Source

• Text: Infobord/Information board
• Photos: Hans Tasma