Green Defence Line route the Beemster
This cycle route leads you along five forts of the Defence Line of Amsterdam, the impressive 19th-century defence line, beautifully situated in the green Beemster landscape.
Cycle along quiet country roads from fort to fort and experience history. From the dike, you look out over the lower polder; a feat of Dutch ingenuity.
You will also discover picturesque places such as De Rijp, Middenbeemster, Edam, Volendam and Monnickendam. These places will surprise you with their monuments, historic canals and cosy terraces. Perfect to stop for a moment and take in the local culture and architecture.
This route offers you a valuable combination of nature, heritage and cultural depth!
Important information:
- This is an ANWB route.
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Starting point:
Parking place De Populier Purmerbos
Westerweg
1447 AB Purmerend
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Fort along Nekkerweg
The fort on Nekkerweg is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site 'Hollandse Waterlinies'. This defensive line of forts was built 15 to 20 kilometres around Amsterdam between 1880 and 1914.
Fort along NekkerwegFort along Nekkerweg
The fort on Nekkerweg is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site 'Hollandse Waterlinies'. This defensive line of forts was built 15 to 20 kilometres around Amsterdam between 1880 and 1914.
This fort created a kink in the main defence line. To prevent the Zuidoostbeemster from being flooded when the Beemster Polder was inundated, both the Nekkerweg and the Volgerweg were raised. This fortress had to prevent the enemy from moving easily via these two elevated roads.
The Fort on Nekkerweg was not completed until 1912. The fort changed its use almost immediately afterwards. In 1918, it was put into use as a military prison. In the period that followed, many conscientious objectors mainly served their sentences here. Almost nothing remains of the fort's original interior. However, the concrete machine gun emplacements on the front wall remain reasonably intact, as does the fort watchman's house.
The fort that once housed soldiers has now been transformed into a luxury eco-chic wellness resort, with two restaurants and 16 luxurious rooms and suites.
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Inundation sluice in South Beemster ring dyke
The Inundation Lock is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam and was constructed by the Department of War between 1890 and 1891.
Inundation sluice in South Beemster ring dykeInundation sluice in South Beemster ring dyke
The Inundation Lock is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam and was constructed by the Department of War between 1890 and 1891.
The sluice formed the main point in the water control of the Beemster polder and was built for the purpose of "flooding the Beemster polder". It consisted of a sluice section in the dyke body and then a bowl section in the upper Beemster polder. Water from the North Holland Canal was let into the polder via this bowl. When the polder was flooded in 1940, it was done via this lock. After its military function ceased, the lock fell into disuse. The openings on the canal side were sealed with concrete and the sluiceways and discharge bed with earth.
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Fort along Middenweg
The fort on Middenweg is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Hollandse Waterlinies'. This defensive line of forts was built 15 to 20 kilometres around Amsterdam between 1880 and 1914.
Fort along MiddenwegFort along Middenweg
The fort on Middenweg is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Hollandse Waterlinies'. This defensive line of forts was built 15 to 20 kilometres around Amsterdam between 1880 and 1914.
The fort is located on the southern ring dyke of polder De Beemster. The North Holland Canal runs behind the fort and the dike. An inundation sluice for the Beemster is located east of the fort. The purpose of the fort was to seal off and defend the accesses formed by the Middenweg and Zuiddijk roads. The original situation around the fort has been preserved: open polder landscape outside the Defence Line and the dike and canal inside the Defence Line.
The fort was used as a warehouse complex from unknown date until after 1974 and on 1-12-1950 as a gunpowder magazine. Later used by Eurometaal (vm Artillerie Inrichtingen); still in use in 1980/1983. Narrow gauge track was present for this purpose.
Facilities for a Detention and Residence Camp for political offenders were partially made in 1946 but the fort was not used as a camp.
Flora & Fauna are of great natural value. Due to strong temperature changes on the barren fort site, distinct dune vegetation occurs here. To be found are, among others, Wall Pepper, Sand Wall, Common Wallow, Jacob's Cross and Rough forget-me-not. Also found are Wolf's-foot, Red-water-herb and Pennywort. Long-eared owl and freshwater prawn are also residents of the nature reserve around the fort.A special feature of this fort was the washroom for the soldiers. An ingenious system cleans rainwater before it enters the wash basins. The sinks themselves can be tipped over so that the dirty water flows away.
The Fort on Middenweg can be admired but not visited.
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Fort on Jisperweg
The fort is located along the southern ring dyke of De Beemster polder. The North Holland Canal runs behind the fort and the dyke. The fort had until the closure and defence of the access to it." (The Jisperweg.)
Fort on JisperwegFort on Jisperweg
The fort is located along the southern ring dyke of De Beemster polder. The North Holland Canal runs behind the fort and the dyke. The fort had until the closure and defence of the access to it." (The Jisperweg.)
Commissioned in 1918 as a military house for about 20 detainees, not being conscientious objectors, of the court martial. Other detainees were locked up in the Fort along Nekkerweg or the Fort near Spijkerboor. From the ring dyke, the access road leads to the fort's throat side. The fort watchman's house and the iron storage shed are
no longer present.A moat surrounds the entire fort; the access bridge is no longer present and has been replaced by a single dam. The main building has a door on the throat side and two windows with steel shutters to each room. The room leading to the pottery has a large double steel door. The front wall is still present and contains four machine gun emplacements and in the middle front, instead of a front building, a lifting turret building.
The nature reserve around the fort houses unusual birds such as the Golden Oriole and the Great Owl, among others. Particular plants include the Ground Featherweed, Ringleaf Vetch and Blue Woodruff.
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Fort near Spijkerboor
The fort near Spijkerboor was the main fort in the northern front of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. From here, the highly strategic dykes around the Beemsterringvaart and the North Holland Canal were defended.
Fort near SpijkerboorFort near Spijkerboor
The fort near Spijkerboor was the main fort in the northern front of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. From here, the highly strategic dykes around the Beemsterringvaart and the North Holland Canal were defended.
The Fort near Spijkerboor was therefore equipped with the heaviest artillery of any fort in this part of the front. At the front, a rotating armoured turret was even fitted with two pieces of artillery of 10.5-centimetre calibre with a range of no less than ten kilometres. This turret and artillery are still present and can also be visited.
The two-storey fort building was used as a prison several times after the First World War. The bars in front of the windows and the interior murals date from those periods.
In 2026, the fort will reopen its doors for viewing! On these days, you can join guided tours, or set off on your own via a marked walking route.
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Fort Benoorden | Purmerend
Fort Benoorden is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site 'Hollandse Waterlinies'. This defensive line of forts was built 15 to 20 kilometres around Amsterdam between 1880 and 1914.
Fort Benoorden | PurmerendFort Benoorden | Purmerend
Fort Benoorden is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site 'Hollandse Waterlinies'. This defensive line of forts was built 15 to 20 kilometres around Amsterdam between 1880 and 1914.
Within this ring, the army, government and king could retreat in case of (possible) attacks on the Netherlands. An ingenious system allowed the land around the defence line to be flooded. Too shallow for boats and too deep for men and horses. Five forts and an inundation sluice of this defence line are located in De Beemster.
This fort was built to defend the vulnerable points formed by the Beemsterringdijk, Purmerenderweg and Rijperweg roads. The defensible earthwork was completed in 1895. The bombproof main building from 1912 is connected by covered corridors to the two lifting turret buildings. Today, wine is stored between the thick walls of this fort, as a wine importer has been located here since 1981.
The fort north of Purmerend was only added to the Defence Line of Amsterdam at a late stage (1907). The construction of this fort, which is part of the northern front of the Defence Line, made use of several new insights. One of the novelties applied was the construction of so-called poternes - corridors covered with steel and concrete - which formed a completely safe connection between the main building and the artillery units.
Poternes were constructed to the two lifting turrets, which housed the large artillery pieces, and to the machine gun emplacements set up at the front. On the right side of the fort's front, part of the terrain was excavated. This was done when a new access road was built.
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Fort near Kwadijk
The fort at Kwadijk was never fully completed. The earthworks, ramparts and moat were finished in 1895. But with the actual fort, they never got beyond part of the foundations. Construction work ceased in 1914.
Fort near KwadijkFort near Kwadijk
The fort at Kwadijk was never fully completed. The earthworks, ramparts and moat were finished in 1895. But with the actual fort, they never got beyond part of the foundations. Construction work ceased in 1914.
Temporary so was the intention, but the work was never resumed after that. By 1916, a significant part of the ramparts had already been excavated again. The earth was used to fill sandbags needed that year for an emergency reinforcement of the dykes in the area. In 1962, the remains of the foundations were also removed. The only remaining buildings are the engineer depot and the fort watchman's house.
The 1884 design involved the construction of a bastioned fort with three buildings. This model was also intended for the forts in the Beemster. The fort was never equipped with bombproof buildings but was provided with earthen ramparts according to "the Small Plan". The bombproof buildings were to be built according to Model B and the foundations and floors had been started. The sand from the earthworks disappeared in two stages: during the 1916 flood disaster for sandbags; and in 1959 for the construction of roads and dams when the Zeevang polder was redeveloped. Finally, in 1962, the foundations and floors were removed, the ramparts excavated and the moat filled in. The fort moat and island are no longer recognisable.
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