Here stands a silent sentinel, the Battery on Sloterweg. It whispers tales of a time when Amsterdam prepared for a watery defense. This battery is a unique piece of military history. It is part of the Stelling van Amsterdam.
The Battery on Sloterweg is on the Geniedijk Haarlemmermeer. It is near the Sloterweg access, now called Rijnlanderweg. This battery supported Fort bij Hoofddorp and Fort bij Aalsmeer.
Imagine this area flooded. The Stelling van Amsterdam could flood the land around the city. This would block access to the capital. The Geniedijk prevented the water from flooding the northern areas. This ensured that land could still be used for agriculture. Amsterdam needed food even during wartime.
The Geniedijk is a crucial part of this defense system. This eleven-kilometer-long dike runs from Fort bij Vijfhuizen to Fort bij Aalsmeer. Three large forts and several batteries protected it.
Built in 1906, the Battery on Sloterweg is smaller than a fort. But it had a similar design. Soldiers accessed the main building via the concealed road behind the Geniedijk. The building had eleven rooms. These included a kitchen and sleeping quarters. A covered corridor connected the main building to the central bunker. This corridor is called a poterne.
Inside the bunker were two 10-cm cannons. These cannons could fire at the enemy from the side. This allowed the Battery on Sloterweg to support Fort Hoofddorp and Fort Aalsmeer. These forts were about five kilometers apart. This was further than their cannons could reach. The battery filled this gap. It ensured the entire area was covered.
After the Stelling van Amsterdam was decommissioned, the Battery on Sloterweg became a storage for explosives. It remained so until 1977. The battery fell into disrepair. It could only be viewed from the outside.
In 2017, Stadsherstel acquired the battery. Stadsherstel restores cultural heritage sites. The battery was renovated. It got electricity, heating, sewage, and water. The original character of the building was preserved.
Now, the Battery on Sloterweg is a hub for artists. It is part of the Genie in De Stelling, or GinDS. Artists rent workshops, studios, and ateliers here. The battery is open to the public on the last Sunday of each month. It is also open on Open Monumentendag.
Today, the Battery on Sloterweg stands as a testament to Amsterdam’s ingenuity and resilience. It shows how the Dutch protected their land. It is now a place for art and culture to flourish. A blend of history and creativity.