Defence Line of Amsterdam-Fort benoorden Spaarndam

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 south of Spaarndam is home, amongst other things, to café/terrace Fort-Zuid, a mini museum about the Defence Line of Amsterdam and a combined exhibition and theatre space. There is often live music and there are fun activities for children. The fortress can also be rented as a party location.

Boats can be rented at the Fort south Spaarndam, and several cruises depart from there. They include boat tours that take you along various fortresses, such as the Fort near Penningsveer and the Fort near the Liebrug. Every Sunday from April through October and occasionally between October and March, the fort offers a short cruise.

Most remarkable about the restored Fort south of Spaarndam are the painted panoramic sketch (firing table) and the range tables that can be found in the left-side gorge casemate. This relatively small fort is located on the site of a previous defence work from the early nineteenth century. In accordance with the Prohibited Areas Act (in Dutch: Kringenwet) from 1853, the residential area of Haarlem still remains at approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) distance. This act was aimed at maintaining the field of fire of defensive structures free from (permanent) buildings.

The Fort south of Spaarndam defended the Slaperdijk (dike) with the Westlaan (lane), a task that it fulfilled in collaboration with the Fort north of Spaarndam. It also had to protect the access that was formed by the Noorder Buiten Spaarne and the roads running alongside this river. The fort was built in the period 1882-1903. In 1901 the construction of the stronghold was finalized with the completion of the concrete shellproof building. North of the fort, a secondary battery for the front artillery is located in the defence line wall.

More information is available here.