I’m quite sure it wasn’t what Mark Knopfler had in mind when he penned his early Dire Straits song but there are so-called Dutch Waterlines and we were heading down to one of ‘em. The Dutch Waterlines are a 200kms long system of forts, dikes, sluices, pumping stations, canals and inundation polders designed to temporarily flood land, effectively cutting Holland [the westernmost province of the Netherlands] off as an island making life difficult for offensive infantry; wading through water should slow them up a tad. This was not anything that we’d ever heard of. (This is a plan of the forts around Utrecht.)
Having been visited in Havelte yesterday by Francine’s former colleague, today we were leaving Havelte and beginning our journey back towards France by heading southwest down to the Waterline at Bunnik. Our journey was just 125kms, less than the length of the defence system. Bunnik was chosen as a suitable meeting point, with something of interest, to meet one of Francine’s photographic buddies. Francine had prebooked us into a campsite just a couple of kilometres away from out meeting point at Fort Vechten [Fort bij Vechten in Dutch], one of the most southern of the forts along the line.
Our journey was blissfully uneventful but, following the normal pattern, a little on the wet side occasionally. We arrived to find ample parking – we managed to find a double length parking space for Frodo – and a little on the wet side briefly became a lot on the wet side. In due course, Francine’s friend showed up and we prepared for our assault on the fort.
As with many such tourist attractions, the fort would be better seen from a distance, preferably from the air. That would require one of those dreadfully irritating drone things, though. NO! We wandered across a bridge spanning the moat where a very dapper man, dressed in a bright pink suit with metal-capped boots in the national Dutch colour of bright orange, was having his light reading taken obviously in preparation for recording. To complete the cool look, even on an overcast day he was also wearing sunglasses/shades/Hollywoods [pick your name of choice].
We wandered around the interior of the fort past what appeared to be a crazy croquet course [I kid you not] in search of a bite of lunch. The only food outlet was inside the museum beyond the entrance fee.
We could see part of the moat surrounding the fort but really only from a distance, save the part spanned by the bridge. The most interesting thing that we could look down on was a sort of diorama cast of concrete showing the system of forts, water courses and sluices. Since we’d had a hefty downpour the model was appropriately largely filled with water.
On our way out we again bumped into Billy the Pink and his adoring support team, complete with umbrella to keep the suit dry when needed. Bye Billy.
We bad farewell to Francine’s buddy and headed for our overnight campsite. The overnight campsite was also largely filled with water, though this was less than appropriate. We managed to find a motor home slot that avoided the need for waders and got Frodo settled. The campsite could best be described as adequate.
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