Between the devil and the deep blue sea - University of Canterbury

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effective defence even more difficult. Unlike another neutral, Switzerland, the Netherlands
lacks defensible boundaries. While the Swiss can hide relatively securely behind their
mountain ranges, the Dutch have no such advantage. Theirs is an extremely flat country
apart from a couple of hills, which they enthusiastically call bergen (mountains). Their only
other natural ally is water. An elaborate inundation network could be brought into play
(Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie, New Holland Waterline) with the potential to hold up any
attackers coming from the east. However, its success relied on adequate foreknowledge of a
pending invasion as the raising of water levels took several days. The railway system
complicated defence further because the lines ran sufficiently close to the border with
Germany to require a full-scale mobilisation three days before an expected attack from that
direction - otherwise they could be captured pre-emptively.18 In other words, defending
level territory against a well organised, well-trained and much stronger armed force was
going to be virtually impossible.
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Map 1: The Netherlands in Europe, 1914
(Source: Martin Gilbelt, First World War Atlas. London: Weidente!d and Nicolson, 1970, p. 12)
18 Schulten, "Van neutralisme naar bondgenootschap" p. 11.