Fort bij Vechten

Fort bij Vechten, located near Bunnik in the Netherlands, is the second-largest fort of the New Dutch Water Line, a defensive system established in the 19th century to protect the Netherlands from invasion. Constructed between 1867 and 1870, the fort was part of an innovative defense strategy that utilized a series of forts and floodable polders to create barriers that were difficult for enemies to cross.

The primary purpose of Fort bij Vechten was to guard the access to the city of Utrecht and prevent enemy advances along the roads and railways from the east, particularly through the gap between the Utrecht Hill Ridge and the river Rhine. The fort features a mix of earthworks and brick buildings, including barracks, storerooms, and gun positions, strategically designed to provide effective defense and logistical support.