Fort Zuidwijkermeer

“Why a cheese fort?” a visitor might ask, standing before the imposing Fort Zuidwijkermeer. Fort Zuidwijkermeer, a seemingly unlikely sanctuary for cheese, has a history as rich and layered as a well-aged Gouda. Part of the Stelling van Amsterdam, a ring of fortifications built between 1880 and 1920, Fort Zuidwijkermeer played a key role in Amsterdam’s defense. This ingenious system used dikes and sluices to flood the surrounding lands, creating a watery barrier against invaders. The fort, completed in 1903, specifically protected the vital Noordzeekanaal. This canal, a lifeline for Amsterdam, provided access to the sea for supplies and reinforcements. But it also presented a vulnerability, a potential entry point for enemies. Fort Zuidwijkermeer guarded this crucial waterway, alongside Fort bij Velsen, ensuring Amsterdam’s safety. Interestingly, Fort Zuidwijkermeer is relatively small, housing only 185 soldiers. Beneath its protective walls lie unique, tiled cellars, originally designed for food storage. These cool, hygienic spaces held meat, vegetables, and potatoes. These provisions, transported via the Noordzeekanaal, were then distributed to other forts within the Stelling. After World War II, Fort Zuidwijkermeer took on new roles. It served as a storage site for explosives and later, for nitrate films from the Eye Filmmuseum, thanks to its cool, humid environment. Now, in a remarkable transformation, it has become Kaasfort Amsterdam. Here, over 300 varieties of artisan cheese are aged and stored in those same tiled cellars. The fort’s thick walls and consistent temperatures create the perfect environment for ripening, echoing its historical function of protecting precious resources. Today, Fort Zuidwijkermeer stands as a testament to adaptation and resourcefulness, a historic fortress safeguarding a culinary treasure. Its story, from military stronghold to film archive to cheese haven, is a delicious slice of Amsterdam’s history.