State-Spanish Lines (line)

The State-Spanish Lines are the remnants of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century military defenses built from the Eighty Years’ War (1568-1648) to the French Age (1794). The system of defences stretched on both sides of the national border from Knokke-Heist in the west to Antwerp in the east. The Linies have played an important role not only in determining the national borders between the Netherlands and Belgium, but also in the further history of the two countries. A large part of these lines and fortifications can be found in the landscape. This map shows where the lines are or have been located. The corresponding forts and fortification sites are not indicated on this map. This map also shows the locations of the fort belts around Antwerp and the Zuiderwater Line.