Nearly 450 objects:fortresses, redoubts, fortified towns, line dikes and canals in an area of about 80 × 40 kilometers on either side of the Belgian-Dutch border between Knokke and Antwerp – these are the State-Spanish Lines. A military raid in 1583 is the first step; some elements still play a role in the Second World War. The lines represent about four hundred years of history of West Flanders, East Flanders, Antwerp and Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. After many subsidized projects to make this heritage more 'experienceable', the Linies will stand on their own two feet from 2014 onwards.
It is November 6, 1583. Thirty ships are heading over the Honte from the Zeeland capital of Middelburg to Terneuzen, packed with about a thousand mainly German soldiers. The commander is Philip van Hohenlohe, who has been in the service of William of Orange since 1575 and has won great victories. He conquered Geertruidenberg in 1576, Steenbergen, Tholen and Breda in 1577.
Hohenlohe, also called Hollock, was later sidelined by Prince Maurits, but in 1583 he was still a man of weight. What is the reason for his raid with ten companies of mercenaries, 'Noses' is already in the hands of the State? Yes, but esquire Servaes van Steelant has defected to the Spaniards and the entire area has been lost to the Revolt, including Hulst, Axel and Sas van Gent.
In 1578, as high bailiff of the Land van Waas, Servaes van Steelant assisted the Calvinists in the plundering of the abbey of Boudelo; five years later, on October 30, 1583, his beautiful castle in Wissekerke in East Flanders is attacked by States troops under Marnix van Sint-Aldegonde. Marnix has cartloads of straw brought in and sets the castle on fire. This is the direct result of Servaes' defection to the Spanish side. The day before, he had received the troops of Alexander Farnese, the Duke of Parma and governor of the Netherlands, in his castle. His force majeure forced the Land van Waas to surrender. As a result, the eastern part of present-day Zeeuws-Vlaanderen also falls into Spanish hands and Servaes is labeled a traitor by the rebels.
Start of the Lines
Hohenlohe manages to thwart the impending loss of Noses. An important achievement, because Terneuzen can keep the canals on Antwerp clear on this side of the Honte. Ghent can also be supplied from Neuzen. Hohenlohe's Germans build a bridgehead south of Neuzen:the Moffenschans.
Today, a spacious nineteenth-century farmhouse on Axelsestraat bears the name Moffenschans, but once a complete defense structure with ramparts and moats was located here. Its creation is seen as the beginning of the State-Spanish Lines. Construction is not without a struggle:skirmishes with Spanish troops and inundations by the Spaniards stagnate progress, while the Germans indulge in drunken fights and mutiny among themselves. Not uncommon in this age of large mercenary armies, manned with 'bread soldiers' whose loyalty depends entirely on the timely receipt of pay and the tolerability of working conditions.
Farnese rightly sees the Terneuzen bridgehead as a major threat to the Spanish cause and its siege of Antwerp. Even before the end of 1583, the Spaniards started to build a 'counter fortress' of the Moffenschans, probably the fortification at Trinity. The war and the erection of defenses on both sides is now really getting going in the region. The formation process of the configuration that we later call the State-Spanish Lines is unstoppable. In this fascinating monumental chain the Spanish, State and French military devices will participate, over a long period of time from the Eighty Years' War to the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) - not counting later adaptations. Because the Lines still played a role during the French period, the Belgian Revolution of 1830 and even the two world wars.
Revaluation
Historians, publicists and local historians have recognized the great importance of the Lines for decades. As the center of gravity not only of the military history, but of the general history of the area:of taxation, inundations, religious struggle, occupation and oppression, looting, employment, forced labour, the establishment of the national border. And even of immaterial folklore or ethnography; There are beautiful traditions associated with various parts of the line.
With all commonality there is also a difference in perception, which is also historically determined. From a northern perspective, the Staats-Spaanse Linies first and foremost remind us of the history of the origin of the Republic, which is such an important part of the Dutch national past. According to a recent publication, for Flanders they are above all a 'symbol of the fate of the European battlefield that has bequeathed the Flemish country for centuries'.
Around the turn of the century, governments also became convinced of the great value of the Lines. It is recognized that an integrated approach is needed to do the Lines cultural-historical justice and make them accessible. But also to expand the cultural tourism (ie economic) and ecological potential and to profile the partly common 'regional identity':what used to separate, now connects.
Refurbishments, restorations, publicity
The Belgian provinces of East and West Flanders, the Dutch province of Zeeland and the city of Antwerp are joining forces. The concept of State-Spanish Lines is being developed with various objectives, such as promoting the border economy, creating new nature and connecting areas, improving access to individual sites and visualizing the military cultural-historical heritage.
In 2006 and 2007, the restoration of various forts and defenses will start. Redevelopment of, among others, the Olieschans (Aardenburg), the city walls of Damme and three forts of the Line of Communication at Koewacht (Fort Sint-Jacob, Fort Sint-Joseph and Fort Sint-Livinus). A wheelchair-accessible path will be constructed across the ramparts of Hulst and more than 30 information panels will be installed throughout Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.
In the course of the eastern Bedmar Line (a product of the War of the Spanish Succession, 1701-1714), a piece of rampart with a braided palisade and moat is being reconstructed (Stropersbos bij Stekene, 2009). Smaller adjustments make well-preserved relics more accessible and experienceable, such as the restoration of parts of and the construction of a footpath at Fort Beieren near Bruges (Koolkerke), Flanders' best-preserved fortress from the War of the Spanish Succession.
The redevelopments and restorations are in most cases linked to nature development. IJzendijke (West Zeeuws-Vlaanderen) has been given a special museum about the State-Spanish Lines:'Het Bolwerk'. In 2007 the visitor center Fort Liefkenshoek will open in Kallo (East Flanders); the municipality of Beveren has been working on restoring the historical and social value of this fort since 1980.
In addition to physical furnishing projects and visitor centers, other products are also being realized, such as the comic book Suske en Wiske and the Laaiende Linies (2011) and the public book The State-Spanish Lines, monuments of conflict and culture (2013) by the author of this article, which is almost sold out after a few months.
Furthermore, a marketing study, the website Staats Spanjelinies, a uniform house style, an educational package, a fortnight, various colloquia and a lot of promotional material in the form of booklets, an overview map, folders and brochures, information corners, information banners and beach flags.
Future
Building on what has been achieved, efforts will be made in the entire area of the Lines in the coming years to further improve access with information boards, cycling and walking routes, and on promotion and education. After a period with a lot of government support, the focus is now on initiatives and cooperation from other parties:recreation entrepreneurs, site management agencies, private organizations, the business community and of course the residents of the region.