Sector Zaandam
This sector is the north-western part of the Defence Line.
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 Sectordepot Zaandam, Materials Division
Located along Side canal G of the North Sea canal near the village
Zaandam. Used for storage of artillery and other materials.
The house/office building is still present but the wooden shed is demolished.
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 Sectordepot Zaandam, Ammunition Division
Located to the east of the village Zaandam. Used for the storage of
ammunition for this sector. Floating ammunition storage was in boats on
the nearby Side canal G of the North Sea canal.
Most buildings are still present.
Show air photograph |
 Fort
near Spijkerboor
Has one of the two remaining gun turrets of the Defence Line, with
two 10.5 cm Krupp-Gruson guns.
Completed in 1912 and was used as a military prison from 1918 to 1950.
From 1945 the inmates were collaborators with the German occupation.
After 1947 drafted soldiers who refused to fight in the Dutch Indies
(now Indonesia) against the Independence guerilla where imprisoned here.
A few prisoners drew many wall paintings during their incarceration.
See also Virtual
Tour Fort near Spijkerboor.
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 Road through the Polder Wormer, Jisp and Nek
A hardened road for military purpose was constructed between two roads
along canals in 1896.
The public roads along the canal were at the foot of the dike to have
an unseen and protected access along the road.
In 1920 the two wooden bridges were in decay and the road was closed.
Uniquely this road survived as it was after the closure in 1920 and
is very visible in the landscape.
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 Line in the Starnmeerpolder
Earth rampart to shortcut a lob of the Starnmeerpolder (reclaimed land)
between another polder and a canal. Only 460 metres in length and around
50 metres of it remains.
The profile of the ramport allowed protective positioning of infantry
and artillery.
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 Fort near Marken-Binnen
The bombproof building was completed in 1904 and the fort has a secondary
battery to the East.
Now in use as a fire brigade training centre.
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 Fort
North of Uitgeest
This fort was planned to defend small inundation areas and to support
offensive action. The area were obtained but by 1888, offensive
action was soon no longer part of the military objective. It became a ammunition storage depot and is now an industrial estate.
Show air photograph |
 Battery near Uitgeest Station
This battery was planned to defend small inundation areas and to support offensive action. The terrains were obtained but by 1888, offensive action was soon no longer part of the military objective. It became a mobilisation centre until 1989 and is now a housing-estate.
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 Fort North of Beverwijk
This fort was planned to defend small inundation areas and to support offensive action. The terrains were obtained but by 1888, offensive action was soon no longer part of the military objective. It is still grassland.
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 Inundation Dike Nauernasche Vaart - De Dam
A 4880 metre long dike, to accomodate partial inundation of several
polders around the village of Krommenie. Beside two secondary batteries,
several pipes and oak sheet-piles were also part of the dike. Most of
the route is still visible with some remains of the earth wall and other
original elements still standing.
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 Fort
near Krommeniedijk
Built between 1900 and 1903 for 275 soldiers. Has a large forward building.
The secondary battery to the East is now part of the back yard of a
house.
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 Fort
along Den Ham
Also built between 1900 and 1903 for 171 soldiers to defend a railroad
access. A concrete secondary battery lies to the South.
Now used by the Royal Airforce Association and a volunteer Defence
Museum is being established.
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 Line East of Fort near Veldhuis
Around 1893-1895 an earth wall was constructed to by-pass an inundation
dike. The wall was only intended to provide gun positions and protected
movement of troops and material.
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 Fort near Veldhuis
Completed in 1899, it is one of the oldest forts of the Defence Line.
During WW I a searchlight with
shelter was added.
Now in use as the Air Warfare Museum of the Aircraft Recovery Group
Association.
Show air photograph |
 Sea dike of Assendelft
The old sea dike functioned as a secondary Defence line since 1895.
The small inundations in this area near the coast required this backup.
Three bomb free ammunition depots, one which is now demolished, were located in
the dike and several batteries could be constructed when needed.
Show air photograph |
 Fort along the St.Aagtendijk
Completed in 1899, it lies in the engineers' dike which is the 1st
Defence wall. The canal in front of it (Side canal A of the North See
canal) was especially made to provide the inundations of most of this
sector with water.
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 Aagtendijk - Zuidwijkermeer Line
An earth wall, constructed in 1894 and 1895, to allow inundation of
only the western half of the polder. Where existing roads crossed the
wall, ground depots were placed on either side of the road to close
the access during a mobilisation. For existing canals, four barrage
sluices were built. One has since been demolished.
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 Fort
near Velsen
This fort has an advanced position, close to the North Sea canal which
it would defend. The bombproof buildings were built between 1897 and
1899. Only the advanced building with the turret remains, the main building
was demolished by the company owning it. The sale of this fort ignited
interest in the Defence Line and its preservation.
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 Fort near Velsen -
Rail bridge Velsen Casemates
The 1905 swivel bridge had two pillars in the middle of the North Sea
canal protecting the open bridge from collisions with ships. These pillars
had each a casemate with a 7 cm gun to prevent ships passing the bridge.
Replaced by a tunnel in 1957 and demolished.
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 Fort in the Zuidwijkermeerpolder
Constructed between 1900 and 1903 along the North Sea canal, behind
Fort near Velsen. This defended the canal, its
dikes and the higher level area which could not be inundated.
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 Position at IJmuiden
Since 1914, a separate positon existed with the Coastal
Fort near IJmuiden, comprising two coastal batteries, two land
batteries and trenches around the mouth and the sluices of the
North Sea canal.
Extended and used as part of the Atlantikwall
by the German forces during WW
II.
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 Coastal Fort near IJmuiden
Advanced position near (and after 1929, in) the mouth of the North
Sea canal. Build between 1882 and 1890, it defended the canal, important
for the inundations and the main artery of supplies and allied forces,
which was completed in 1876. It has seven guns but was soon outdated
and in 1939 a trial firing caused a wall to collapse.
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 Fort South of North Sea Canal
Already in 1893 plans emerged to build a second fort near IJmuiden
with 28 cm guns in turrets to improve the range of the guns and be able
to counterattack modern enemy gunships. As part of the coastal defence
the plans stayed plans and priority was given to other forts. In 1920
all construction on coastal forts was canceled and the fort was never
build.
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 Coastal Batteries IJmuiden
Between 1932 and 1939 four ligth coastal batteries were build around
the IJmuiden harbour. Two had 3x 12 cm guns and two others had 3x 7
cm guns. A heavy coastal batterie was planned but building never started
before May 1940.
The locations of the batteries were re-used by the German occupational
forces and there are probably no remains.
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 Battery North See Canal
During mobilisation many temporarily batteries and infantry-posts would
be constructed. Such as this small gun battery, made from wood, earth
and straw. It was located in a (vegetable) garden of a house along a
road.
After the Great War ended, these batteries were cleared again.
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