Plofsluis, Military lock in Nieuwegein, Netherlands
The Plofsluis is a lock with five concrete compartments positioned above the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal and filled with rocks and rubble. The structure was designed to be detonated in a controlled way to dam the water when needed.
Construction began in 1937 and finished in 1942 under German occupation as part of the defense system called the New Dutch Waterline. The project arose from the military need to protect the Holland and Utrecht regions.
The structure shows Dutch engineering skill and was part of a defense system that combined water management with military strategy. Visitors can still see the sturdy concrete design that brought together these two purposes.
The lock is located next to the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal and can be viewed from the outside by visitors. The best way to explore it is to walk along the canal, where you can see the concrete structure from different angles.
The lock was one of World War II's most creative weapons, using water as a military force. The concept of combining explosives with water control was unheard of at the time and showed inventive thinking in defense strategy.
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