Defence Line of Amsterdam-Fort Velsen

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.

This is the only Defence Line fortress made of concrete that has been partly demolished. The fort was outfitted, amongst others, with three turrets with 150 mm guns. These had a long range and could fire at targets as far as the estuary of the North Sea Canal and the area between the towns of Haarlem and Castricum. The front building with a single turret has been spared.

The Fort near Velsen defended the North Sea Canal and its banks up to the coastal fort IJmuiden. The stronghold was completed in 1899. Its sale to a private individual in 1978 and the partial demolition of the fortress in 1981 caused the Province of North Holland to realize that the Defence Line of Amsterdam as a whole should be preserved.

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

More information is available here.