Fort Kudelstaart, part of Defence Line of Amsterdam
Fort Kudelstaart is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. This is a 135 km long military defence line containing dozens of forts, dams and locks, interconnected by dykes and ramparts. It was an ingenious system designed to keep out ‘the enemy’ during the two world wars. Thanks to the Defence Line of Amsterdam, the land around the line could be flooded, resulting in a lake that was not deep enough for ships but too deep for man and horse. It has never been used. During those war periods, the line was put in position to defend the city of Amsterdam, but no battles ever took place. The Defence Line has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1996.
