Fort benoorden Purmerend

Fort benoorden Purmerend is a military fortification in the Beemster region and part of a 135-kilometer defensive ring around Amsterdam with concrete structures and water control systems. The construction integrates defense architecture with water management into a single defensive structure.

The fort was built between 1880 and 1914 as part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam to protect the capital through deliberate flooding. This strategy used water as a weapon against possible invaders.

The fort reflects Dutch building traditions that combined military defense with water management as one system. Visitors can observe how the fortification and water control remain intertwined features of the landscape today.

The site is easily accessible and offers space to explore the fortifications and water control system. Visitors should expect wet ground and wear comfortable shoes, as the grounds are crossed by water channels and ditches.

The fort could flood the surrounding terrain to an exact depth of 30 centimeters, making it impassable for enemy forces. This sophisticated water control required complex machinery and processes that were engineering feats in the early 1900s.