Engelstalig iBook over de Stelling van Amsterdam

[Rene Ros]

We zijn er trots op u te mogen laten weten dat we de eerste Engelstalige boekpublicatie over de Stelling van Amsterdam hebben gelanceerd. In navolging van ons succesvolle Nederlandstalige boek in 2013 is ook dit als ebook uitgegeven zodat het bereik zo groot mogelijk is. Wij danken Alex Bishop, Engelsman en 'cultural heritage professional' bij o.a. de Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie, voor zijn onmisbare hulp bij de vertaling naar het Engels.

Hieronder volgt het Engelstalige persbericht. Wij hopen dat u deze uitgave per e-mail, op uw website en via sociale media bij uw buitenlandse relaties onder de aandacht wilt brengen. Bij voorbaat onze dank hiervoor.

Met vriendelijke groet,
René Ros en Alexander Senger
Documentatiecentrum Stelling van Amsterdam

P.S. Informatie over het Nederlandstalige e-book vindt u op: http://doccentrum.stelling-amsterdam.nl ... ties/boek/

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Press release - August 25th, 2014
iBook 'Introduction to the Defence Line of Amsterdam': flooded polders as an efficient means of defence.

Defence Line as a whole
The Defence Line of Amsterdam is a 135 kilometre long defensive ring around the Dutch capital. It was built between 1881 and 1914 and circled the city at a distance of 15 to 20 kilometres. This iBook is meant as a quick introduction to the Defence Line of Amsterdam as a whole. Although the 46 forts and other defensive constructions are its most visible elements, inundated polders were the essence of the line's defensive power. These proved a very efficient means of defence and the Defence Line elevated inundations to an art form. This is one of the main reasons why the Defence Line of Amsterdam was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List due to its 'outstanding universal value'.

Chapters
This iBook consists of 8 chapters. They address the reasons for construction, the building of the Defence Line, victualing, the use of the forts, the situation during the First World War (in which Holland was neutral) and the use of inundations. The book ends with a description of the modern day civil use of the forts. This varies widely, from studios for artists, hotels and restaurants to public authorities and nature conservation organisations.

A wealth of underlying information
Weblinks in the colophon unlock a wealth of underlying information, linking not only to websites by René Ros and UNESCO siteholder the Province of Noord-Holland, but also information about hiking and cycling routes and other recreational options.

About the authors
This book was written by René Ros and Alexander Senger. Alex Bishop was responsible for the English translation.
René Ros has done extensive research in the last 15 years on the Defence Line. Alexander Senger is a free lance communications consultant and photographer with an extensive archive of pictures on the Defence Line. Alex Bishop is an English cultural heritage professional based in the Netherlands. He is lead researcher on the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie's UNESCO bid.

The e-book can be downloaded with more information via:
http://doccentrum.stelling-amsterdam.nl/book/