World Heritage Photos

Fort along the Pampus – Keystone of the Defence Line of Amsterdam

The Fort along the Pampus is the most vital fort of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. This defensive line consists of a ring of 42 forts around Amsterdam, intended as the last stronghold of the Netherlands. Following the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), plans were made for the construction of this defence line, which forms part of the Dutch Water Lines. A network of forts and defensive waterworks was built around the city between 1883 and 1920. The Fort along the Pampus was constructed on a man-made island in the former Zuiderzee, now Lake IJsselmeer, and is situated directly at the mouth of the IJ, the waterway to the port of Amsterdam. The island was built on approximately 4,000 piles. The fort itself was constructed of reinforced concrete and brick; it was completed in 1895.

The fort was never used in combat. During the First World War, 200 soldiers were stationed at the fort. After 1933, this imposing fort was not longer used for military purposes. During the Second World War, the Germans occupiers removed the steel objects including the four Krupp guns, which were transported to the Ruhr region and melted down for munitions. All the wood was also stripped from the fort.

Fort Pampus has now been restored. In consultation with UNESCO, the gun turrets were reconstructed; these now consist of wooden domes covered with polyester. Today, the fort is a monument and is the most visited location of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. The fort can be reached by a ferry from the fortified town of Muiden, which was also a key link in the defence line. Five forts of this defence line are located in the Beemster Polder. The Defence Line of Amsterdam, including Pampus Fort, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. In 2021, the New Dutch Water Line gained status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Together, these defence lines feature the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Dutch Water Defence Lines.

www.werelderfgoedfotos.nl   © Copyright   World Heritage Photos

➔

➔

1. 

   The historic Fort along the Pampus is one of the most important fortresses of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands, was protected by the Defence Line of Almsterdam, an enormous network of fortresses, batteries, casemates and waterworks such as a large system of canals, sluices, dikes and inundations, temporary flooding the polders.

2. 

   Defence Line of Amsterdam: The two turrets of the Fort along the Pampus are overlooking Lake IJsselmeer. The turrets are a reconstruction made of wood and polyester. Once, two guns were housed in the gun turrets of the fort. In WWII, the Germans occupiers removed the steel objects from the fort including the guns and turrets, the steel was melted down for munitions.

3. 

   The Fort along the Pampus is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. The fortress was built in the period 1887-1895 on a man made island in the former Zuiderzee, now Lake IJsselmeer. The fortress was constructed on the Pampus sandbank, 4000 piles and 45000 m³ of sand were used to build up the huge sandbank. The Fort along the Pampus itself was built of brick and concrete.

4. 

   Defence Line of Amsterdam: The Fort along the Pampus is an oval shaped concrete building, the dry moat between the inner fort and the outer fort is eight metres deep. The Fort along Pampus is the most visited fort of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. The Defence Line of Amsterdam was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1996.

5. 

   Defence Line of Amsterdam: Fort along the Pampus, the dry moat as seen from the inner fort. Together with the coastal battery on the Lighthouse Island close to Durgerdam and the coastal battery near Diemerdam, the Fort along the Pampus was constructed to protect the entrance to the harbour of Amsterdam and the IJ, the waterfront of Amsterdam.

6. 

   Fort along the Pampus: The gunpowder storeroom is situated along a transport corridor inside the inner fort. The transport corridor is leading to the two gun turrets. The inner fort contained also rooms such as the kitchen and soldier's quarters. The Fort along the Pampus is situated in Lake IJsselmeer, about 2.5 km north of the harbour of the fortified town of Muiden.

7. 

   The Fort along the Pampus was built with concrete reinforced with basalt. During WWII, the fort was used for target practice for German dive bombers. Nowadays, the Fort along the Pampus is a monument and open to the public. The Fort along the Pampus is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. The Defence Line of Amsterdam was completed in 1920.

8. 

   Fort along the Pampus: A defensive corridor in the outer fort, the corridor was built in the shape of a keyhole, so that soldiers with a backpack could easily walk through the corridor. The outer fort housed a prison, a forge and several storage rooms. The Fort along Pampus is one of the 45 forts of the Defence Line of Amsterdam, one of the Dutch Water Defence Lines.

9. 

   Defence Line of Amsterdam: One of the bombproof corridors of the Fort along the Pampus. The outer fort and the inner fort were connected by two bombproof corridors. The Defence Line of Amsterdam has never seen combat service, during the construction of the fort, the invention of the aeroplane and long range weapons rendered the defence line obsolete.

10. 

    Defence Line of Amsterdam: The dry moat between the outer and inner fort of the Fort along the Pampus. The Dutch army was fully mobilized during WWI, 200 soldiers were quartered on the Fort Island Pampus, but the Netherlands remained neutral and no shot was fired from the fort. After 1933, the fort was not used for military purpose anymore.