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A defence line is a tourism object that creates a lot of rural tourism products. Most of the time it is situated in the country and more or less hidden, as a kind of camouflage. On the other hand, it dominates and gives form to the landscape, especially in the front line, as the guns of the defence line must have open fields like meadows and agriculture land. Defences of canals, inundations and obstacles for tanks can also dominate the front line. At the back of the line there are the transport roads for ammunition, supplies, meals, etc. for the soldiers. The Grebbelinie does not have sheltered (underground) transport routes, like the Ostwall in Poland, for example.
A recovered Grebbelinie means that roads are available to enter the defence line. The road behind the first defence line can be (re)constructed for cyclists and on the top of the line or in front of it walking paths can be realized. Even a horse riding track is possible, giving an imagination of the cavalry officers, inspecting the line.
The water defending, the canal is also in front of the line. Of course, the inundations are too hard to realise given the restricted living space in The Netherlands.
So walking, horse riding and cycling are attractive parts of the renewed old defence line.
On the defence canals, water sports of small boats are possible like canoeing, rowing and water biking. Even water roundabout tours are possible with narrow passengers boats.
To inform the tourists about the old defence line, the fortresses will be rebuilt with some small visitor centres in them. Some trenches and casemates will be reconstructed.
Guiding can be an integral part of the Grebbelinie experience.
The existing restaurants and tourism accommodations can take profit from the tourists' needs to see the whole line or a part of it. New initiatives to raise rural accommodations, small restaurants, tea-houses can be encouraged, as long as they are fitting in the line concept.
So the revival of the old defence line creates a lot of jobs in the reconstruction and preserving of it, as well as the tourism products after its construction. It means stimulation of the local economy and increase in employment in the rural area that is threatened by urbanisation.
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2.1.6. Costs | 2.2.1. Living Intangible Heritage |
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