22 Fortified city
Let op: deze website is momenteel onder constructie. Helaas zullen hierdoor niet alle pagina's naar behoren functioneren. Onze excuses voor het ongemak!
The city became part of the Dutch Republic in 1591 and this change in function (from the Spanish side to that of the Dutch Republic) had a huge effect on Nijmegen. The walls and towers that once defended the city’s independence were now also used to defend the Dutch Republic, particularly the core regions of Holland and Zeeland. This meant that Parliament became responsible for the stronghold. However, as the Dutch Water Line was considered of increasing strategic value, there was little interest in the quality of the city walls and maintenance only took place when essential. The repairs to the walls were finally started when Nijmegen was rudely awoken by Spanish raids in 1635 and 1636 and a French attack in 1672. Reconstruction of the walls was started, but never completed. Much the same happened during international tensions in 1747 and 1780.
Earthen walls became important for the city’s defence as the high medieval brick walls could not withstand cannon balls. It was important to keep the enemy as far away from the walls as possible, because firearms now had a longer range and could kill citizens inside the walls. As a result outer walls were built further and further away from the main walls. They were specifically designed to shield the gates and take the first hits. The sconce (earth bank fortification) Knodsenburg was positioned on the other side of the river Waal to protect the city. In 1700 lunettes were built near Bottendaal, Steenen Kruis, Kijk in de Pot and the Hunnerberg. A few decades later the Hollandia fort was built on a sandbank in the Waal.
One consequence of being included in the Dutch Republic’s defence system was the stationing of a garrison. During times of tension these garrisons could house up to ten thousand men. This happened during the Spanish attack of 1635-1636, but afterwards the garrison decreased to less than a thousand men. The church had concerns about the morality of the garrison, but most people were happy to accept the soldiers. They gave the economy a boost and many soldiers married local girls, creating close relationships between Nijmegen families and the soldiers.
circa 1600-1800
