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Fort Vijfhuizen

Coordinates: 52°20′51″N 4°40′13″E / 52.34750°N 4.67028°E / 52.34750; 4.67028
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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.

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.[1] On 3 May 1943 an American Ventura bomber crashed into the moat.[1]

South of this fort, also along the ringvaart, is the first fore position of the fort, currently part of a golf course. A bit further south is yet another fore position at fort Cruquius, just south of the Cruquius Museum.

References

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  1. ^ a b Fort bij Vijfhuizen on Stelling van Amsterdam website
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52°20′51″N 4°40′13″E / 52.34750°N 4.67028°E / 52.34750; 4.67028