The Doggerland Front; where are the Dutch?

[fred]

Thanks, not something I’ve seen in the UK. But an interesting concept to make a dirt track more durable. They don’t look that suitable for cycling on though, or is the layer of shells quite thin?

[area23]

They are perfect for cycling and the crackling sound brings tears of nostalgia to most Dutch people.

[Return of the Modhail]

Yup, schelpenpaden are a national memory.  Less ideal for soggy conditions and high traffic as the shells will simply sink into the ground under the weight of travellers.

I'm of a mind with the previous posters: Small outposts, not much more than a village police station or lighthouse at crossroads and important locations:  a lookout tower, and a small office/barracks for one or two people.  At more important locations: small barracks, enough to house a single squad of infantry/cavalry and a housekeeper.
And yes, "armenkolonies" or "veenkolonies" (aka paupers colonies) as well, as "terraforming" locations, similar to how they were used in the larger Dutch polders.

Knowing the Dutch, there will certainly be the occasional church or wilderness chapel dotting the land as well. Some Christian, but with influence of Doggerland, pagan or paganised ones will also occur.

All cool ideas for Doggerland terrain and/or scenarios: Maybe the wilderness chapel has attracted/angered a local entity and it is determined to defend the chapel, or punish any passerby for it's existence?
A pauper colony is under attack by sea creatures, do you help them, or use the fight as a cover for your raid?

And Dutch magic I assume to be either subtle and deceptive, to give an edge in trade or influence people, or folk magic dialled up to eleven, "wijze wieven" (wise women) who can do unusual, but not particularly flashy stuff. An old spinster in traditional dress that, if accompanying the troops, they always seem to reload faster, or their wounds somehow don't get infected, or the enemies fire is less accurate?
Something to think of as well is that Indonesia was still a colony of the Netherlands. Maybe, confronted with the awakening of magic in the Doggerland, some entrepeneur acquired some specialist support from a land already filled with mysticism, magic and "quiet power"? 

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Thanks for the details of the shell roads.

Interested to see how you get on with this.

[Daeothar]

Something to think of as well is that Indonesia was still a colony of the Netherlands. Maybe, confronted with the awakening of magic in the Doggerland, some entrepeneur acquired some specialist support from a land already filled with mysticism, magic and "quiet power"?

Or how about a Papuan tracker/scout attached to a unit, to seek out tresspassers?

I love the idea of influence instead of direct flashy magics too btw; it fits the background much better

[area23]

Knowing the Dutch, there will certainly be the occasional church or wilderness chapel dotting the land as well. Some Christian, but with influence of Doggerland, pagan or paganised ones will also occur.

Good point. This is where saint Nicholas may enter the scene: One of the oldest saints in Christianity and used from the beginning to convert pagans, replacing Wodan. 

Something to think of as well is that Indonesia was still a colony of the Netherlands. Maybe, confronted with the awakening of magic in the Doggerland, some entrepeneur acquired some specialist support from a land already filled with mysticism, magic and "quiet power"?

Great idea!!