Defensiekanaal, Anti-tank trench in Wanroij, Netherlands.
The Defensiekanaal is an anti-tank trench in Sint Anthonis, in the Netherlands, and is listed as a Rijksmonument, meaning it is a nationally protected monument. A raised earthen barrier runs along its length, and a wide protective strip beside it shows how much space this defensive structure was designed to occupy.
The trench was built in 1939 as part of the Peel-Raam Line, a Dutch defensive line that saw brief action during the German invasion in the spring of 1940. After the war, the structure was kept intact and eventually placed under national protection.
The name Defensiekanaal simply means "Defence Canal" in Dutch, which reflects its original military purpose. Today, the area around it is used by walkers and cyclists who follow the path along the water, often unaware of what the structure was built to do.
A path runs alongside the canal and allows access on foot, though ground conditions can vary depending on the weather. It is worth wearing sturdy footwear and staying aware of open water and trench sections along the way.
Part of the construction work was carried out by unemployed laborers hired through relief programs set up during the economic crisis of the 1930s. The trench was therefore built with both a military goal and a social one in mind at the same time.
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