From the entrance of Hotel Mitland you don't see it right away, but from the rooms at the back and the restaurant you look out on Fort de Bilt. This fort is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Hollandse Waterlinies. A long line of defense with robust forts, many ingenious waterworks and a green open landscape. Unique in the world and therefore the Hollandse Waterlinies is rightly on the World Heritage List with the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal.
The Hollandse Waterlinies consists of the two historic water lines: the Stelling van Amsterdam and the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie. These lines were built during the time period 1815 to 1920 to protect the western part of the Netherlands. The system was so clever that the land from Edam to the Biesbosch could be flooded to knee height. Too deep for men and horses, too shallow for boats. Thus the enemy was stopped. The flooding of land is called inundation.
Mitland in the heart of the Utrecht Defence Line
Around Utrecht are two circles of forts that, together with all the canals, locks, dikes and inundation bowls, are called the "Utrecht Defence Line. The inner ring dates from the beginning of construction (ca. 1820). As Utrecht expanded further in the following decades and the power of artillery increased, allowing the enemy to still shell the city over the forts, a second ring of forts was constructed around 1870. Another reason there are relatively so many forts around Utrecht is because the land here is higher which made it difficult to flood it. Fort de Bilt was built between 1816 and 1818. The official name is "The Fort on the Biltstraat. Because of increasing traffic, the Biltsestraatweg was widened in 1930 and drawn right through the fort. The fort has consisted of two parts since that year. The southern part is still owned by the Department of Defense. The northern part, which you can overlook from Mitland, is owned by the municipality of Utrecht.
Discover the Hollandse Waterlinies nearby.
Many forts are open and connected by various fun cycling and walking routes. Hop on your bike and discover a number of pearls of the Hollandse Waterlinies close to Hotel Mitland:
Waterline Museum Fort near Vechten (20 min. bike ride)
Visit this unique place where two UNESCO World Heritage Sites meet. Here the story of the Dutch Waterlinies and the Lower Germanic Limes (border of the Roman Empire) comes to life, both inside and out. Readers receive a 20% discount off the normal admission price by showing this magazine.
More info: waterliniemuseum.nl
Fort de Gagel (20 min. bike ride)
On the 'fort island' of the characteristic restaurant Fort de Gagel it is great for drinks, lunch and dinner. The fort is located on the edge of the green Noorderpark Ruigenhoek, which is also good for a walk. O.v.v. 'Mitland 100' coffee with apple crumble from € 9,50 for € 7,50.
More info: fortdegagel.nl
Utrecht University Botanical Gardens at Fort Hoofddijk (10 min. bike ride)
The Botanical Gardens are home to more than thousands of (unusual) plant species. Visit the rock garden located on top of Fort Hoofddijk. There is also a terrace and a Garden Shop. Readers of this magazine receive €1.50 discount on the normal admission price.
Valid only with the purchase of an online ticket. Use the discount code
'Mitland100'; valid for tickets for visits in the period March 1 to
June 30, 2024. Online ticket purchase is possible from mid-February.
More info: uu.nl/botanicalgardens
Check the website for more information about the forts,
the biking and hiking routes and the story of the Dutch Waterways.