Fort aan de Middenweg

Nestled within the Stelling van Amsterdam, a network of forts and defenses, lies Fort aan de Middenweg. This fort, built between 1881 and 1919, played a crucial role in Amsterdam’s defense strategy. The Stelling van Amsterdam was designed to protect the capital by flooding the surrounding areas, blocking enemy access. Fort aan de Middenweg specifically defended the Middenweg and Zuiddijk, crucial access points into the city. Construction of the bombproof fort building began in 1913. Its thick walls and roof offered protection against enemy fire. Interestingly, a young Willem Dudok, who later became a renowned architect, oversaw the construction as a military engineer. The fort’s design is simpler than earlier forts in the Stelling. It has only one entrance to defend and a single retractable gun turret instead of the usual two. This simplification was due to the changing nature of warfare and the fort’s strategic location within the easily flooded Beemster polder. The fort’s front wall housed four machine gun emplacements. The machine gun, a modern rapid-fire weapon, provided effective short-range defense. Fort aan de Middenweg also showcases advancements in concrete construction. Reinforced concrete, strengthened with steel bars, was used in critical areas like the gun turret. Less vulnerable areas used less expensive unreinforced concrete. The fort’s watchman’s house once housed Willem Dudok and his family. Dudok lived there for seven months starting in August 1912. He likely oversaw the construction of the fort’s bombproof buildings. A year later, he left the army to become the director of public works in Leiden. He subsequently became an internationally known architect, famous for designing Hilversum’s town hall. Fort aan de Middenweg retains many original features. These include a water purification system, original water pumps, and a unique cleaning room. This room has a ceiling water reservoir and modern tilting washbasins. The fort grounds are now a protected nature reserve. The sandy soil, brought in to support the heavy concrete structures, fosters unique dune vegetation. This creates a microclimate with significant temperature fluctuations, attracting diverse bird species. The fort’s moat provides a tranquil breeding ground for ducks and waterfowl. Although not currently open to the public, Fort aan de Middenweg offers glimpses into its rich history. It serves as a daytime activity center. Future plans may transform the fort into a bed and breakfast with meeting rooms. This development, led by the owners of Fort Resort Beemster, is currently under review.