Fort Vijfhuizen

Fort Vijfhuizen is one of forty-two forts in the Defense Line of Amsterdam (Dutch: stelling van Amsterdam), a World Heritage Site.

It is located in the town of Vijfhuizen on the ringvaart which surrounds the Haarlemmermeer polder.

The main fort is currently maintained by a charitable foundation called Kunstfort Vijfhuizen which leases space for twelve artist studios and a restaurant.

The fort is situated on a hill surrounded by a moat and accessible during opening hours.

It was built in 1889 and 1890 with sand taken from the excavations for a new sluice-gate complex in IJmuiden.

View of the fort from above, taken from the information board in front of the complex. The ringvaart is visible in the lower right-hand corner.