The Zuiderwaterlinie forms a unique series of historic fortified towns and surrounding areas linked by the authentic story of defending the Netherlands on water.
Heusden is renowned as a seventeenth century fortified town. In many ways, Heusden still resembles (or more accurately, resembles again) the town as the Amsterdam mapmaker Joan Blaeu depicted it on his famous map of 1649. But the town is much older.
Toward the end of the sixteenth century, a new era presented itself in Heusden. The city government sided with William of Orange, and Heusden's defenses were adjusted to keep Spanish troops out of Holland.
The impoverishment that occurred in the nineteenth century had made Heusden a dilapidated monument town. Especially after the devastation of 1944, the town was badly battered. The municipal government was faced with the task of restoring and growing the town.