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Fort bij Rijnauwen, west of Utrecht |
The Kringenwet of 1853 was a Dutch law governing structures and earthwork near military installations along a defense flood zone. It forbade certain developments progressively in three concentric rings.
The "law of rings" protected an open view and free range of fire. Construction, demolition, digging, and horticulture were all controlled with increasing strictness closer to facilities.
The parameters of the Verboden Kringen were as follows:
• Between 0 and 300 meters, the ministry of war would have to approve any construction and then would permit only structures made of wood, reed, or other flammable material.
• From 300 to 600 meters, one could build a foundation of stone or brick up to 50 centimeters high, and a chimney. Everything else would have to be flammable.
• From 600 meters to one kilometer normal construction was permissible but military authorities could order destruction without consultation.
The waterline defense became obsolete when Nazi Germany overflew it and heavily bombed Rotterdam in May of 1940, forcing Dutch surrender. The ministry of war suspended enforcement of the Kringenwet in 1951 and withdrew the law in 1963.
Much of the infrastucture stands. Many of the areas formerly protected for military reasons are now lush refuge for birds, animals, and flora.