Fort Vijfhuizen

This Dutch fort was constructed from 1889 to 1897 as part of the Stelling van Amsterdam (Defence Line of Amsterdam). In 1914-1918, the fort was mobilized. During the occupation years, the fort was used by the Germans, who blew up the only gun turret (picture 3). They also built a 5cm 'KwK Stand' anti aircraft gun bunker on top of the fort. An Allied Ventura bomber crashed in the fortress's moat on 3 May 1943.

The fort today:
It is currently going under the name 'Het Kunstfort bij (The Art Fortress at) Vijfhuizen and is open to the public. It isn't a military museum, so there' are only exhibits about modern art inside the fort.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Dick de Bruijne
• LEEUWEN, M. VAN & STAARMAN, A., Tastbare Herinneringen 1914-1918, Western Front Association Nederland, 2008.