Innudation area Old Dutch Waterline Hekendorp

This area was the narrowest part of the Old Dutch Waterline. By means of the Goejanverwelle sluice, the area between the Enkele and Dubbele Wiericke could be inundated (flooded).

By flooding polders along the borders of Holland and Utrecht, the French army would have access to Holland only over the narrow and unpaved dykes. The submerged land was too deep to wade through, but too shallow to navigate. These dykes could be defended with relatively few soldiers.

The year 1672 is one of the most chaotic and uncertain years in Dutch history and is known as the Disaster Year. According to a Dutch saying, "the people were helpless, the government desperate and the country helpless". In this year, the Dutch War began and the young Republic of the Seven United Netherlands was attacked in the spring by France, England, Münster and Cologne.