Westbatterij Muiden, Dutch Waterline fortification in Muiden, Netherlands
Westbatterij Muiden is an oval-shaped brick fortification situated on a moated plot at the mouth of the Vecht River. It features a drawbridge and thick defensive walls designed to resist attacks.
The fort was built in 1852 and served as a strategic defense point protecting the harbor of Muiden. It was designed to prevent enemy landings along the Zuiderzee dike.
This fortification reflects Dutch military design from the 19th century and belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage New Dutch Waterline defense system. It represents the Dutch approach to protecting coastal areas during that era.
The fort is accessible to visitors across a bridge over the moat and is managed by the municipality of Muiden. It now houses a scout group and welcomes visitors on designated days for tours.
During the 1960s, the former gun chambers were repurposed as cultivation spaces for growing mushrooms. This unusual adaptation shows how the structure found new practical use after its military days ended.
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