Vughtse Lunetten - Vught

The Vughtse Lunetten are a series of earthen fortifications from the mid-19th century, constructed between 1844 and 1848 by order of King William II. They were built to protect ’s-Hertogenbosch after the Belgian Revolution, when the southern border of the Netherlands had become vulnerable. The eight lunetten were positioned in an arc around Vught and were designed to keep enemies at a distance and enable a mobile defence.

Although the lunetten were part of a well-designed military system with moats and inundation areas, they quickly became outdated due to rapid developments in modern artillery. By the end of the 19th century, they had lost their military function, and in 1920 the defensive line was officially decommissioned. Nevertheless, the structures have largely remained visible in the landscape.

During the Second World War, the lunetten took on a tragic significance due to their proximity to Camp Vught; executions of resistance fighters took place at Lunet II. Today, the remaining lunetten are listed monuments and part of the Southern Waterline. They now form a unique combination of nature reserve, historical heritage and memorial site.