Werk aan de Groeneweg

New Dutch Waterline

Schalkwijk - During the Great War (World War I), war was fought in large parts of Europe. The Netherlands was neutral, but ready for the event that the war would also spill over to the Netherlands. To defend the nearby Fort Honswijk, the Werk aan de Groeneweg was constructed between 1914 and 1918. The Work consists of a double trench with earthen walls. The water features created by the construction of the ramparts formed an additional obstacle for the enemy. 55 group shelters were made of concrete in the ramparts. Each shelter was suitable for 8 to 16 soldiers.

World War II

There were no living quarters at the defenses. The soldiers slept in wooden barracks on the west side of the Groeneweg. After the capitulation of the Netherlands in 1940, the Werk aan de Groeneweg was taken out of use by the Germans. The group shelters were bricked up.

Fruit trees

The beautiful old standard fruit trees were planned around the defenses in 1932 as camouflage.