Take a day trip to fascinating Fort Pampus
Raise the flags and man the guns! For a fascinating day trip from Amsterdam, hop on a ferry and discover Fort Pampus, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This island fort was once part of the Stelling van Amsterdam (Defence Line of Amsterdam), a system of fortifications that defended the city by means of flooding. The island and fort have a mysterious air and make for an interesting day out for visitors of all ages. Please note that Fort Pampus is only open to visitors from 1 April to 31 October.
Defence Line of Amsterdam
The Stelling van Amsterdam (Defence Line of Amsterdam) is a circular defence system stretching 135 kilometres around the edges of the city. Constructed between 1883 and 1920, water played a crucial role in the design of the defence line. By flooding the surrounding area, Amsterdam could be secured against invasion within 48 hours. The system of 46 island forts presented a formidable obstacle to any enemy trying to capture the city. Ironically, the introduction of the aeroplane made the defence line obsolete just as it was being completed!
UNESCO World Heritage site
The water management technology used to create this defence system is what makes the Defence Line of Amsterdam unique, earning it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list. But Fort Pampus is not only interesting to engineers and history buffs. There are treasure hunts and games just for children, and nature lovers can spot a variety of wildlife on the island. As with most military institutions, the fort was off-limits to visitors for many years, adding to the mystery of the island.
Target practice
Built at the end of the 19th century in the former Zuyder Zee, the island was completely man-made by driving 3,800 piles into the sea. By 1933, the fort was abandoned when the last military fort-keeper retired. During World War II, the fort and island were used by the German invaders. They demolished the massive steel gun turrets in order to use the resulting scrap metal, and bombed the entire island as a form of target practice. In 1991, Fort Pampus was finally opened to the public and it now welcomes more than 40,000 visitors every year.
Visiting Fort Pampus
Of course, the best way to reach Fort Pampus is by boat. If you have your own boat, there is plenty of room to tie it up at the pier. If not, you can take a ferry from either Muiden or IJburg. To reach Muiden, take a Connexxion bus from Central Station in Amsterdam. The ferry departs a few times each day near Herengracht 33 in Muiden from 1 April to 31 October. To reach IJburg, take tram 26 from Central Station in Amsterdam. The Silboa ferry (website in Dutch) departs from the IJburg yacht harbour at least once a day from 1 April to 30 September. Some charter companies also organise their own trips to Pampus. Once on the island, you enjoy lunch and refreshments at the Pampus Paviljoen.
Fort Pampus is open from 1 April to 31 October. It is closed on Mondays.
Pampus makes for a fascinating day out during your visit to Amsterdam! If you've got the time, the Muiderslot castle in Muiden is also well worth a visit.
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