Defence Line of Amsterdam-Fort aan de Liede

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 along the Liede is one of the four fortresses that were built after the reclamation of lake Haarlemmermeer. On the northern part of the fort’s grounds there is a casemate carrying the Mercury emblem of the Corps of Engineers and the year 1914.

The Fort along the Liede served as a defence for the ring canal and dike of the Haarlemmermeer Polder and the Spaarnwouderweg/Schipholweg roads. The fortress was built in the years 1846 - 1848 as part of a forerunner to the Defence Line of Amsterdam, whose defences were known as 'Posten van Krayenhoff’ (Krayenhoff Posts).

The fort is now used for storage and not open to the public.

More information is available here.