A series of moats and fortresses were built over the West Brabant Water Line region of the Netherlands during the 17th century in order to provide protection from invasion by France and Spain. Fort de Roovere was surrounded with a shallow moat that was too deep to march across, and too shallow for boats. In turn the earthen fort had remained protected –until now.
From afar, the Moses Bridge is invisible to the eye. The flow of the moat appears continuous, as the water level remains at the same level, reflecting the surrounding foliage. As visitors approach the fort, the bridge appears as a break in the water with its sloping walls containing it.
First lying flush with the earth, the bridge then descends deeper into the ground. Lined with wood sheet piling for walls, the deck and stairs sit between. The sides of the bridge are made from Accoya, and a hardwood is used for the bridge decking. Accoya wood undergoes a nontoxic modification process that helps prevent fungal decay and increases its durability, making it an ideal material for a sunken bridge. Like a dam, the walls of the bridge hold the waters of the moat back, and like Moses, the bridge parts the waters so that pedestrians may pass.
The Moses Bridge gives visitors a unique opportunity to pass through parted waters, to eventually meet a historic fortress of defense.
+ RO & AD
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No, your eyes are not deceiving you – the waters have indeed parted! This incredible “sunken” bridge located in the Netherlands is giving visitors a unique way to access a beautiful 17th Century Dutch fort. Designed by RO & AD Architects, the to
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A series of moats and fortresses were built over the West Brabant Water Line region of the Netherlands during the 17th century, to protect invasion from France and Spain.
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Fort de Roovere was surrounded with a shallow moat, too deep to march across yet too shallow for boats. The earthen fort remained protected- until now.
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From afar, the Moses Bridge is invisible to the eye. The flow of the moat appears continuous, as the water level remains at the same level, reflecting the surrounding foliage. As the visitor gets closer to the fort, the bridge appears, as a break in the
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Lying flush with the level of the soil and earth, the bridge descends into the ground. Lined with wood sheet piling for walls, the deck and stairs sit between, made from sustainable hardwood that is Cradle to Cradle Gold certified.
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The Accoya wood is also treated with a nontoxic coating, protecting it from fungal decay and increasing its durability- making it an ideal sustainable material for the sunken bridge. Like a dam, the walls of the bridge hold the waters of the moat back,
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The unique bridge now allows visitors to access the fort, and to proceed through the moat with the waters at chest level. The Moses Bridge gives visitors a unique opportunity to pass through parted waters to a historic fortress of defense.
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