Defence Line of Amsterdam-Fort Hoofddorp

The UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Defence Line of Amsterdam (in Dutch named Stelling van Amsterdam) is a 135 km long ring of fortifications around Amsterdam, consisting of 42 forts located between 10 to 15 kilometers the centre, and lowlands that can easily be flooded in time of war. The flooding was designed to give a depth of about 30 cm, insufficient for boats to traverse. Any buildings within 1 km of the line had to be made of wood, so that they could be burnt and the obstruction removed.

The Stelling van Amsterdam was constructed between 1880 and 1920. The invention of the aeroplane and tank made the forts obsolete almost as soon as they were finished. Many of the forts now are under the control of the town councils and the nature department, and may be visited. Monuments Day, on the second Saturday in September, is the ideal day to visit as entrance is free.

The Fort near Hoofddorp dates back to 1904. The most striking feature of the fortress is its second level and the related front caponier, a low frontal expansion. The additional floor was needed due to the limited space. As a result, the moat was partly distracted from the defenders’ view. The armoured steel caponier supplied by Skoda is a unique element of the Defence Line.

The Fort near Hoofddorp now serves as the clubhouse for a rifle club. Each year the fortress is opened on the last Saturday of Stellingmaand (Defence Line Month) in September.

The Fort near Hoofddorp served as a defence for the accesses formed by the Hoofdvaart and the roads running on both sides of this canal. The main defence line of the ‘Stelling’ cut right through the Haarlemmermeer Polder and was formed by the Geniedijk, a dike constructed for the army in 1891-1894, and the forts near Aalsmeer, Hoofddorp and Vijfhuizen.

More information is available here.