The Kringenwet (kringen = rings, wet = law) was instituted for the purpose of maintaining open firing ranges within specific distances of the fortress and artillery infrastructure units.

This "ring-zone law" specified allowances for all building, landscaping, and horticulture within three distances from any fort or artillery along the "waterline."

The Verboden Kringen were as follows:

• Between 0 and 300 meters, the Ministry of War would have to approve any construction, and then would only permit structures made of wood, reed, or other flammable material.

• Within the second ring, from 300 to 600 meters, one could build a foundation of stone up to 50 centimeters high, and a chimney — but everything else would have to be flammable.

• From 600 meters to one kilometer, normal construction was legal — but military authorities could order destruction without any consultation, and without any chance for the property owner to challenge the decision in a court of law.

The Ministry of War never altered the Kringenwet of 1853. In 1951, its enforcement was suspended, and in 1963 the law was offically withdrawn.