World Heritage Photos

The Defence Line of Amsterdam is a 135 km long ring of fortifications around the city of Amsterdam. The fortifications were built in the period 1883-1920. Amsterdam was protected by a network of 45 forts, 4 batteries and waterworks, such as a system of canals and sluices, dikes and inundations (temporary flooding) from the polders. The  Defence Line of Amsterdam lies at approx. 15 to 20 km from Amsterdam. The Defence Line of Amsterdam would function as the final line of defence for Amsterdam, the capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Part of the of the defence line is the Fort along Pampus, located on a man-made island in the former Zuiderzee, nowadays Lake IJsselmeer. The Defence Line of Amsterdam has never seen combat service, during its construction, the invention of the aeroplane, tank and long-range artillery rendered the defence line obsolete. Today, many of the forts are used for different purposes, such as wine trading, art centre and museum. Five forts of the Defence Line of Amsterdam are located in the Beemster Polder. Several fortresses of the Defence Line of Amsterdam are also part of the New Dutch Water Line. Due to the combination of nature and cultural heritage, the Defence Line of Amsterdam is also designated as a National Landscape. The Defence Line of Amsterdam became a UNESCO World Heritage in 1996. The New Dutch Water Line became a UNESCO World Heritage in 2021, this line, together with the Defence Line of Amsterdam, forms the UNESCO World Heritage: Dutch Water Defence Lines.

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   Fortress Spijkerboor is the northernmost fortress of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. Fortress Spijkerboor is situated in the south-west corner of the Beemster Polder, also an UNESCO World Heritage. Five fortresses of the Defence Line of Amsterdam are situated in the Beemster Polder. The Defence Line of Amsterdam gained status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1996.

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   Defence Line of Amsterdam: The original turret of Fortress Spijkerboor. The fortress was built between 1889 and 1911. It was mobilized during WWI and during the first days of WWII it also was manned. The fortress still preserves some original rooms such as the kitchen, washroom, telephone exchange, generator room and also its original turret.

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   Defence Line of Amsterdam: Inside the gun turret of Fortress Spijkerboor, the two Krupp guns had a range of 10 km. Fortress Spijkerboor can be visited only a few days a month. The Defence Line of Amsterdam has never seen combat service, during its construction, the invention of the aeroplane rendered the defence line obsolete. 

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   Fortress Spijkerboor is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam, it is one of the largest fortresses of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. Fortress Spijkerboor is the only fortress of the Defence Line of Amsterdam that still preserves its original turret. The original guns are still inside the turret, the two Krupp guns were the most powerful in the Netherlands.

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   Defence Line of Amsterdam: A classic Mini in front of Fortress Spijkerboor. Fortress Spijkerboor is situated in the Beemster Polder. It was the most important fortress in the northern part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. Fortress Spijkerboor was built to defend the North Holland Canal, the Beemster Ring Canal and the dikes around the Beemster Polder.

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   Defence Line of Amsterdam: The Fortress at Vijfhuizen is situated on an island in the Ringvaart, a circular canal surrounding the Haarlemmermeer Polder. The fortress was completed in 1898 and is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. The Defence Line of Amsterdam was a 135 km long ring of fortifications around Amsterdam. It was built in the period 1883-1920.

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   Defence Line of Amsterdam: The historic Geniedijk Haarlemmermeer is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam, the dike runs through the Haarlem Lake Polder from the Fortress at Vijfhuizen to the Fortress at Aalsmeer, passing the Battery along IJweg, the Fortress at Hoofddorp, the Battery along Sloterweg, the Slotertocht casemates and the Battery along the Aalsmeerderweg.

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   Defence Line of Amsterdam: The Fortress at Vijfhuizen is completely surrounded by water of the Ringvaart. During WWII, the Germans removed all the steel objects including the guns, the steel was transported to the Ruhr region and melted down for munitions. The Fortress at Vijfhuizen is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam.

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   Defence Line of Amsterdam: The Genieloods is situated close to the Fortress at Vijfhuizen and is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. The Genieloods is a former military barrack, it was built in 1896, the steel barrack was used for the storage of weapons. The Defence Line of Amsterdam was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996.

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    Defence Line of Amsterdam: The 'Sluipweg' is a work of art on the area around the Fortress at Vijfhuizen. Now, the Fortress at Vijfhuizen is a centre for contemporary art, called the Kunstfort. There are several art exhibitions inside the fortress and on the area around the fortress, several works of art can be admired.

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    Defence Line of Amsterdam: The round Tower Fort on the Ossenmarkt (Ox Market) in the small town of Weesp is surrounded by a moat. The Defence Line of Amsterdam was built between 1883 and 1920. Amsterdam was protected by a network of 45 forts, batteries and waterworks, such as a system of canals and sluices, dikes and inundations, temporary flooding the polders.

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    Defence Line of Amsterdam: The Tower Fort on the Ossenmarkt was built as an extension of the fortifications of Weesp in 1861. The Tower Fort on the Ossenmarkt is surrounded by a moat and accessible via bridge. The fortified town of Weesp was part of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie, the New Dutch Water Line, and incorporated into the Defence Line of Amsterdam in 1892.

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    Defence Line of Amsterdam: An historic wooden drawbridge across the river Vecht close to the defensive Tower on the Ossenmarkt (on the left hand) in Weesp. The Tower on the Ossenmarkt was built to protect both banks of the river Vecht. The fortified town of Weesp is situated 19 km southeast from the city centre of Amsterdam.

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    The Mice Fortress was one the fortresses of the New Dutch Water Line, built in 1874-1877. The fortress served to protect the harbour entrance of the fortified town of Muiden. Later, the Mice Fortress was incorporated into the Defence Line of Amsterdam. It was mobilized during WWI and in 1940, just before WWII. Now, the Mice Fortress, the Muizenfort, in Muiden is a museum.

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    Defence Line of Amsterdam: The Fort along Middenweg was completed in 1914. The Fort along Middenweg is situated in the Beemster Polder, it is privately owned and closed to visitors. The fort is part of a nature reserve. The Defence Line of Amsterdam was the final line of defence for the capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

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    The Fort along Middenweg is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. The Fort along Middenweg is part of a nature reserve and not open to visitors. The fort is situated in the Beemster Polder. The northern stretch of the Defence Line of Amsterdam runs through the Beemster Polder, also an UNESCO World Heritage.