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Military history of the Netherlands is closely related to the origins
of De Uithof. How come? Up to the 1950s the area to the east
of Utrecht remained open and free of permanent buildings because
it was part of the Dutch defence lines: the 'Hollandse
Waterlinie'.
In case of military threats, the 'Johannapolder' as the area
was called could be flooded (inundation)
to prevent enemy troops from taking the city. Only in 1951 the
Prohibited Areas Act ('kringenwet, 1853') was suspended (officially
repealed in 1963), thus enabling new town and landscape planning
to take place. In other words: the expansive needs of Utrecht
University towards the end of the 1950s could be fullfilled just
east of the city: 'De Uithof' was born. Some facts in chronological
order:
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