The stunning, partially underground fort is the largest of the Defence Line of Amsterdam, featuring an extensive network of tunnels, over 40 rooms, and an impressive domed hall. It has become a major tourist attraction in the IJmond region.
The fort and the island have largely been restored to their original state or transformed into museum spaces. Some of the highlights include: a fully equipped pre–World War II military hospital, a fully furnished German bunker, and a weapons and ammunition museum.
Fort IJmuiden was built between 1881 and 1888. With three floors, 72 rooms, and a mostly underground tunnel system stretching 585 meters, it is the largest fort in the Defence Line of Amsterdam, which it has been part of since 1888. The fort was originally constructed to defend the mouth of the North Sea Canal.
