Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Defensiedijk

Defensiedijk

Highlight (Segment) • Monument

Defensiedijk

Recommended by 14 hikers out of 15

This Highlight goes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Gelderse Poort

Save

Location: Lingewaard, Gelderland, Netherlands

Save

See hikes here

Take Me There

Routes here

Best Hiking Routes to Defensiedijk

4.5

(29)

150

hikers

1. Fort Boven-Lent – Defensiedijk (Gelderse Poort) loop from Vossenpels

12.2km

03:05

20m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Intermediate

4.5

(27)

141

hikers

2. Bemmel Loop – Defensiedijk (Gelderse Poort) loop from het Hoog

13.4km

03:24

20m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Intermediate

4.4

(8)

hikers

3. Bemmelse Waard – The Kruittoren in Kronenburg Park loop from Nijmegen

28.6km

07:14

60m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Expert

Tips

Miranda 🥾 TriA© / Johnny

August 6, 2024

In the 1950s, a dam, the Defense Dike, was constructed between Arnhem and Nijmegen. This was part of the IJssel Line and served as an emergency dike in the event of a possible flooding of the Overbetuwe. Although the enormous sand body was of course very striking, almost no one knew its real function.

IJssellinie
After WWII, Western Europe fell into the grip of the Cold War. The fear of a Russian invasion was so great that in the 1950s a defense line was constructed along the Rhine. To protect the major cities in Holland and Utrecht, the Netherlands devised the IJssel Line. By damming the Waal and Rhine with weirs, the IJssel could be transformed into a kilometer-wide barrier. The weak link in the plan was the Betuwe Bandijk: if it broke, the water would drain through the Betuwe. That is why it was decided to build an extra dike from Arnhem to Nijmegen.

Defense dike
The official term for such a dam is sleeper dike, but it soon became popularly called Defense Dike. He used the existing railway embankment in Lent, which was given an embankment with asphalt sand on the east side to strengthen it. Furthermore, the dike followed the route of Rijksweg 52 (now A325) to Arnhem. A total of 350,000 cubic meters of clay and 2 million cubic meters of sand were used for the construction. The sand came from a vacant lot near Elst, now Aamsche plas. This used to be also called 'Defence Chamber' or 'Eisenhowerlas'.
info: spanningdehistorie.nl/location/lent-defensiedijk

Translated by Google •

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Distance 306 m

Uphill 10 m

Downhill 10 m

Weather

Today

Saturday 1 November

14°C

10°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 16.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Lingewaard, Gelderland, Netherlands

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Duivelsberg

View of the Rhine Lowlands from the Forest Edge

Sunken Path in the Forest

Dike Along the Waal River to Nijmegen

Cycle Path Along the Linge

Hervormde Kerk Ooij

Louisedal

Galloway Cattle in Bisonbaai

View of the Waal

Prachtig gebied

View of the Valley with Elevation Differences

Uiterwaarden Bemmel

Defensiedijk

1. Fort Boven-Lent – Defensiedijk (Gelderse Poort) loop from Vossenpels

2. Bemmel Loop – Defensiedijk (Gelderse Poort) loop from het Hoog

3. Bemmelse Waard – The Kruittoren in Kronenburg Park loop from Nijmegen

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️