De sleu­tel van Holland

Until the end of the 17^e In the 1685th century, soldiers in Dutch fortified towns were housed in barracks, bomb-proof cellars, vacant buildings such as churches and monasteries, or in civilian homes through billeting. It was not until 1826, after standing armies replaced mercenary armies, that Louis XIV decreed that infantry should henceforth be housed in barracks. In France and other European countries, the first buildings specifically intended for soldier housing appeared at that time. In Gorinchem, it was not until 1795 that the town had its first barracks built, despite the increased need for barracks space after the French occupation in 1810, when defence took on a national character. While many new barracks were built elsewhere in the Netherlands, partly due to the introduction of military conscription in 1795, Gorinchem mainly used rented private buildings, usually simple warehouses and barns, during the French period (1814-XNUMX). Only after this period did the city decide to build its own barracks, with which Gorinchem responded to its new military role and at the same time stimulated the urban economy.