The Noorderlinie (Dutch for “Northern Line”) was the northern of the four lines of the concentratie-linie around Kota Radja in Atjeh, with posts at Lamara and Kota Radja Bedil, strengthened by General Pel in 1874 to preserve the connection with the Atjeh river and to defeat the enemy’s attempts to cut the Dutch off from it. The Noorderlinie, together with the Westerlinie, formed the original defensive system of Kota Radja, and was supplemented in later years by the Zuidoosterlinie and the Noordoosterlinie.
Background
After the fall of the Kraton on 24 January 24 January 1874 and the proclamation of annexation of Groot-Atjeh on 31 January 31 January 1874, the Dutch held the Kraton and a few outworks. After the departure of Van Swieten on 26 April 26 April 1874 the war continued under General Pel, who in May-June 1874 occupied the Westerlinie — a series of posts west of Kota Radja to connect it with Marassa and Lampassei — in response to the enemy’s resumption of the struggle.
The Posts at Lamara and Kota Radja Bedil
For the better preservation of the connection with the Atjeh river and to defeat the enemy’s attempts to cut the Dutch off from it, the Noorderlinie was also strengthened by the establishment of posts at Lamara and Kota Radja Bedil. In September 1874 Langkroek was taken to better defend the right bank of the Atjeh river; in November 1874 the kampong Lemboe was taken and a fortification was set up at Kota-Alam to secure the east side of Kota Radja and to ensure safe navigation on the Atjeh river. The Noorderlinie was frequently attacked by the enemy throughout the war.
See Also
- Concentratie-linie
- Westerlinie
- Zuidoosterlinie
- Noordoosterlinie
- Lamara
- Langkroek
- Lemboe
- Kota-Alam
- J. L. J. H. Pel
- Aceh War
Source
De geschiedenis van Nederland in onzen tijd, by J. A. de Bruyne, Directeur der Hoogere Burgerschool te Zierikzee. Deel IV. 1872-1883. Nieuwe uitgave. Schiedam: J. F. Dupont, 1912, Hoofdstuk I, pp. 33-37.