Rolf, Rudi Napoleons forten aan de Schelde. Franse vestingbouw in Zeeland

Between 1795 and 1814, the Dutch and the French built a whole series of fortifications along the East and West Schelde. Vlissingen, Breskens, Veere and the banks of the Western Scheldt were the subject of extensive implemented and planned fortification measures for two decades.

Napoleon Bonaparte, as First Consul and later Emperor of France, built numerous forts and batteries to counter a possible British invasion. This invasion came in 1809 and led to the destruction of Vlissingen and an occupation of Walcheren and Zuid-Beveland that lasted for months. This book looks at the French plans for the Scheldt area based on the tasks and comments recorded by Napoleon Bonaparte in letters and decrees. It also deals with the numerous designs for forts, coastal batteries and fortifications that were kept in the genius archives in The Hague and Vincennes. Dutch activities in the defence of the Scheldt after 1814 also receive the necessary attention. The fortress of Ellewoutsdijk, the fortress of Terneuzen and especially the coastal fortress of De Ruyter near Vlissingen show the importance the Netherlands attached to the development of river defences as they were established during the French Empire.