Fort bij Edam
Fully armoured casemate.
Fort bij Vijfhuizen
View from the observation turret.
Fort bij Hoofddorp
A unique armoured caponnière was erected to cover the deep ditch of the fort.
Battery near Veldhuis
To close the gaps between the forts, several fortified batteries were built in between.
Fort bij Uithoorn
Seperate toilets for (non)commissioned officiers and the sick.
Fort bij Waver-Amstel
Observation turret on the backside of the fort.
Fort bij Waver-Amstel
Double casemate for covering the back of the fort.
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Early 20th centry art work to make the inside of forts more livable.
Fort bij Waver-Amstel
Casemate for a retractable gun turret.
Fort bij Waver-Amstel
Observation turrets on top of the fort.
Battery near Nigtevecht
To close the gaps between the forts, several fortified batteries were built in between.
Fort bij Uithoorn
Military engineering building.
Fort bij Uithoorn
Casemate for a retractable gun turret.
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Early 20th centry art work to make the inside of forts more livable.
Fort bij Uithoorn
Casemate for a retractable gun turret.
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Observation turret.
Fort aan de Nekkerweg
The fort is now in use as a spa. One of several examples of modern reuse.
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Krupp double barreled rotatable gun turret.
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Observation turret.
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Machine gun positions.
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Machine gun position.
Inundation lock Noordhollandsch Kanaal
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Krupp double barreled rotatable gun turret.
Fort bij Edam
Fully armoured casemate.
Fort bij Vijfhuizen
View from the observation turret.
Fort bij Vijfhuizen
Fort bij Hoofddorp
A unique armoured caponnière was erected to cover the deep ditch of the fort.
Fort bij Krommeniedijk
Fort Zuidwijkermeer
Battery near Veldhuis
To close the gaps between the forts, several fortified batteries were built in between.
Fort bij Nigtevecht
Fort bij Uithoorn
Seperate toilets for (non)commissioned officiers and the sick.
Fort bij Waver-Amstel
Fort bij Waver-Amstel
Fort bij Waver-Amstel
Fort bij Waver-Amstel
Fort bij Waver-Amstel
Observation turret on the backside of the fort.
Fort bij Waver-Amstel
Double casemate for covering the back of the fort.
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Early 20th centry art work to make the inside of forts more livable.
Fort bij Waver-Amstel
Casemate for a retractable gun turret.
Fort bij Waver-Amstel
Fort bij Waver-Amstel
Fort bij Waver-Amstel
Observation turrets on top of the fort.
Fort bij Waver-Amstel
Battery near Nigtevecht
To close the gaps between the forts, several fortified batteries were built in between.
Fort aan de Drecht
Fort bij Uithoorn
Military engineering building.
Fort bij Uithoorn
Casemate for a retractable gun turret.
Fort bij Uithoorn
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Early 20th centry art work to make the inside of forts more livable.
Fort bij Uithoorn
Fort bij Uithoorn
Casemate for a retractable gun turret.
Fort bij Uithoorn
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Observation turret.
Fort aan de Nekkerweg
The fort is now in use as a spa. One of several examples of modern reuse.
Fort bij Edam
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Krupp double barreled rotatable gun turret.
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Observation turret.
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Machine gun positions.
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Machine gun position.
Inundation lock Noordhollandsch Kanaal
Fort bij Spijkerboor
Krupp double barreled rotatable gun turret.
2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War One. Neutral Netherlands didn't see any fighting on its own soil. It did however see thousands of refugees and prisoners of war. It also prepared for a war itself. 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. The defence was based on the flooding of lowlands and protection of high parts likes dikes and railways. At the beginning of World War One, the Netherlands remained neutral, and did not finish the defence line. New strategical insights during the war showed that aeroplanes, and mobile fronts made the forts obsolete. During the interbellum, only small concrete bunkers were added to vulnerable areas in between the forts. The entire line is now protected UNESCO World Heritage. The forts are environmental safe havens. They once were intruders in a quiet landscape. Nowadays they're part of it themselves.