Fort Koning Willem I: A Historical Monument in Maastricht
Built between 1815 and 1818, Fort Koning Willem I is an important part of Maastricht's fortifications. This fort was constructed during the modernization efforts led by King William I. The construction of Fort William was prompted by Napoleon's return from his exile on Elba on March 1, 1815 and the fear of new wars in northwestern Europe. Despite Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo on June 18, 1815, Fort William I was fully completed over the following three years.
The Strategic Importance of Fort Koning Willem I on the Caberg
In 1814, the Caberg was surveyed and mapped. A year later, construction began on Fort Koning Willem I at the southern tip of this elevation. The first and most important phase of construction was completed as early as September 1815. The initially all earth fortress was lined with masonry walls in 1816 and the following years.
Fort Koning Willem I served to secure the northern fortress fronts and, together with Fort Sint-Pieter, could provide crossfire for the High Fronts. It also covered the terrain of the Low Fronts. The fort is located at the junction of Cabergerweg and Fort Willemweg, on the elevated edge of the terraces of Caberg. The distance between the fort and the Hoge Fronten near the Statensingel is about 300 meters.
Due to its higher location, the Caberg was of great strategic importance for the defense of the city. Since the 15th century, the development of tolerant artillery made it possible for besiegers to use the higher ground directly outside the city to shell and destroy the fortifications and ramparts. Vauban noticed this as early as 1673. During the siege by the French in 1794, they took advantage of these heights and destroyed much of what was then the Bossche Fronten.
Fort Willem: Defense of Maastricht
Fort William was built in response to the capture of Maastricht by the French Republican army in 1794. The city was besieged mainly on the Bossche Fronten side. Fort Willem was to provide better defense of the northwestern and northern fortress fronts. Together with Fort Sint Pieter, the fort was able to establish a crossfire for the western fortification front, making attacks on this side of the city more difficult.
Fort William is a fortification in the shape of an irregular pentagon. The five sides of the fort are called facs, flanks and throat, respectively.
Fort Willem: Historic Fortification in Maastricht
Fort William is a fortification in the shape of an irregular pentagon. The five sides of the fort are called facs, flanks and throat, respectively. The outward facing sides are called facs, while the rear facing sides are called flanks. The throat refers to the back of the fort on the city side, enclosed by a wall with a central monumental gate.
Inside the fort was a bombproof casemate, where soldiers could safely stay and ammunition and provisions were stored. Around the fort ran a dry moat and glacis, a sloping slope on the outside. On the south side was a covered road, the Kastanjelaan, which connected to the High and Low Fronts. Immediately outside the monumental gate in the throat was a small guardhouse.
Unlike Fort St. Peter, Fort William had no mine system, although the possibility of construction was present.
During its active existence between 1815 and 1867, Fort William experienced no military actions. The period 1830-1839, when the Southern Netherlands split from the Kingdom of the Netherlands and founded the State of Belgium, was somewhat exciting. Maastricht remained in Dutch hands, however, without any military action.
Description of Fort William 1
Fort William 1 has a revĂȘtement of escarp (9.30 meters high) and contrescarp (6.70 meters high), both of brick. The cordon and corner blocks are of hard marlstone, and the light slits in the left flank have a frame of bluestone.
The throat closure consisted of a 2.60-meter-high brick wall with embrasures and a monumental gate with the inscription "Fort King William 1."
On the terre square were the entrance to the pottery, a cross-track and a well. The west side was occupied by the casemate facade with an entrance gate and blind windows. The facade is richly decorated with brick and bluestone.
The casemate has a large room with cross vaults on four pillars and two smaller vaults. A staircase of 19 steps gives access to the ring gallery, which consists of 136 rooms. The front wall of these rooms has embrasures for the dry moat.
The contrescarp gallery has exits on the dry moat. A sunken corridor connects the ring gallery behind the escarp and contrescarp. Access from the fortress was a covered road, Chestnut Avenue.
Armament
Fort William had no covered artillery emplacement; the artillery was located in the courtyard. The casemate served as a bombproof barracks and warehouse, capable of holding 1,000 men and 36,000 pounds of gunpowder.
Fort William 1: From Fortification to Playground
In 1867, the Maastricht fortress was disbanded, leading to the demolition of its defenses. This allowed city expansion and industrial growth. Despite demolition, a significant garrison remained in Maastricht, and some areas, such as the southwestern half of Fort Willem and the Hoge Fronten, remained under military control.
The northeastern part of Fort William was demolished in 1869, but most of the fort was preserved. Today, part of the fort is used as a playground, and the student organization Tragos has its home there.
Current Status
In 1947, a playground was set up at the fort. The casemate was later used by the Bescherming Bevolking (BB) and then by student association Tragos. The fort now has a destination and is managed and Stichting Maastricht Vestingstad offers tours there.