Line of Bevewijk - Lunet 14

This is one of the 26 former lunettes of the Beverwijk defense line (number 14).

In 1799, troops from England and Russia invaded North Holland from the sea to drive the French troops out of the Netherlands. Heavy fighting took place near Castricum and some soldiers managed to reach Wijk aan Zee. However, the invasion itself was a total failure.

In response to this, an earthen defense line was constructed around Beverwijk in 1800, on the then narrow isthmus between the North Sea (west) and the Wijkermeer (east). A total of 26 lunettes were built. Of these, 8 are now left: lunette 26 in Wijk aan Zee and lunette 8 to 14 in Beverwijk. Counting starts in the east.

A lunette (or: field entrenchment) is an arc-shaped earthen wall, erected between six or eight angular points, like a crescent moon (lunette). The central point of each lunette pointed north (towards the 1799 invasion). Mobile field guns could be placed on a lunette. The lunettes were manned until 1804. On this lunette stands a monument from 1800. It says 'Si vis pacem, para bellum': if you want peace, prepare for war.

During the Second World War, the German occupier dug (stone) trenches in some lunettes.

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