Werk aan het Spoel, Military fortification complex in Culemborg, Netherlands
Werk aan het Spoel is a fortification complex positioned along the Lek River floodplain containing several structures including the Kogelpoort gate, an amphitheater, a fort house, and bombproof buildings. The layout preserves various defensive elements designed at different times to manage water levels and secure the territory militarily.
The fortification was built in 1794 and later integrated into the New Dutch Waterline between 1814 and 1815 to serve as a strategic control point for water defense. This integration made it part of a larger defensive system that used water as a natural barrier against invasion.
The site hosts the annual SPOEL festival, bringing music, poetry, and theater performances into its historical military structures. This artistic use has transformed the complex into a living cultural space where contemporary performances echo off the old walls.
The site is open to visitors who can arrange guided tours with volunteer guides sharing information about the waterline defense system and fortification history. Allow time to explore the different areas and understand how the complex layout connects the various defensive structures.
The Kogelpoort is an unusual structure specifically designed as a bullet catcher for a shooting range and maintained this purpose until 1945. Its segment-arch openings were engineered to trap and destroy projectiles flying in different directions.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
