Silent witnesses of the Hollandstelling built during the First World War.
Historical indication:
The Hollandstelling (also Hollandlinie or, in German, Hollandstellung) was a line built by the German occupation forces of Belgium during World War I (1914-1918).
The line ran from the Zwin to Maldegem along the parallel canals, the Leopold Canal and the Schipdonk Canal, and in the east it continued to Vrasene, from where the territory could be flooded by the Scheldt. This line had a length of more than 75 km. Beyond Vrasene, the line also connected to a belt of fortified forts around Antwerp.
Hundreds of bunkers were built for the line, which were made of reinforced concrete. The walls of these structures were often more than two meters thick. In fact, this was the first application of reinforced concrete for bunker construction.
The Hollandstelling was established in the autumn of 1916. The occupying forces feared that an Allied invasion force would advance from the (neutral) Netherlands to liberate Belgium. However, such an invasion never took place.

Translated by Google •

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

April 1, 2023

After the end of World War I, a number of silent witnesses of the Hollandstellung (Holland Defense) of this period remained on our territory.
Historical indication:
The line ran from the Zwin, near Knokke, to Maldegem along the parallel canals, the Leopold Canal and the Schipdonk Canal, and in the east it continued to Vrasene, from where the territory could be flooded by the Scheldt. This line had a length of more than 75 km. Beyond Vrasene, the line also connected to a belt of fortified forts around Antwerp.

Hundreds of bunkers were built for the line, which were made of reinforced concrete. The walls of these structures were often more than two meters thick. In fact, this was the first application of reinforced concrete for bunker construction.

The Hollandstelling was established in the autumn of 1916. The occupying forces feared that an Allied invasion force would advance from the (neutral) Netherlands to liberate Belgium. However, such an invasion never took place.

Translated by Google •

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

April 1, 2023

Silent witnesses of the Hollandstelling built during the First World War.
Historical indication:
The Hollandstelling (also Hollandlinie or, in German, Hollandstellung) was a line built by the German occupation forces of Belgium during World War I (1914-1918).

The line ran from the Zwin to Maldegem along the parallel canals, the Leopold Canal and the Schipdonk Canal, and in the east it continued to Vrasene, from where the territory could be flooded by the Scheldt. This line had a length of more than 75 km. Beyond Vrasene, the line also connected to a belt of fortified forts around Antwerp.

Hundreds of bunkers were built for the line, which were made of reinforced concrete. The walls of these structures were often more than two meters thick. In fact, this was the first application of reinforced concrete for bunker construction.

The Hollandstelling was established in the autumn of 1916. The occupying forces feared that an Allied invasion force would advance from the (neutral) Netherlands to liberate Belgium. However, such an invasion never took place.

Translated by Google •

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Thursday 18 December

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17 %

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Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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Location: Beveren, Sint-Niklaas, East Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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