The land of Maas and Waal

The land between Maas and Waal, once sung about by Boudewijn de Groot, has been at least a very eventful area throughout the centuries. The first finds date back to the time of Roman rule. Although the Romans didn't get much further thanks to the Frisians and the Batavians, this stretch of land was strategically very important. The Spanish thought so too during the 80-year war when they built Fort St. Andries there, the largest Spanish stronghold in our country. Then the French set fire to it and the Germans blew it up in 1945. During the Cold War, another air watch tower was built to protect us from the Russians if necessary. Fortunately, the only foreigners still interested in the area today are tourists, which is why the fort is now open to the public. Of course, there is much more to see in the area than just the fort. As one of the floodplains of the Meuse River, the area attracts many birds and other flora and fauna. Wooded islands, meadows, farms and streams of water makes the piece of polder look truly Dutch, and it remains so despite all the foreign interference over the centuries.