The Fort bij Spijkerboor that you can see on your left hand side is part of the Stelling van Amsterdam – Dutch for the 'Defence Line of Amsterdam' – that formed part of Amsterdam's fortification system. The defence line extends 135 kilometres (84 miles) and was built between 1880 and 1920. The Stelling van Amsterdam was a water defence – a sort of extended city wall consisting of waterways and waterworks that could be flooded if Amsterdam ever came under threat.
The Stelling van Amsterdam is also on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. In addition to Beemster and the Stelling, there are another six World Heritage Sites in the Netherlands. These are the former island of Schokland, Amsterdam's Ring of Canals, the Kinderdijk Windmills, the Woudagemaal Pumping Station, the Rietveld Schröder House and the Wadden Sea.
If you're curious to find out how the defence line's forts helped protect Amsterdam from advancing armies, then watch the video.
The Stelling van Amsterdam is also on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. In addition to Beemster and the Stelling, there are another six World Heritage Sites in the Netherlands. These are the former island of Schokland, Amsterdam's Ring of Canals, the Kinderdijk Windmills, the Woudagemaal Pumping Station, the Rietveld Schröder House and the Wadden Sea.
If you're curious to find out how the defence line's forts helped protect Amsterdam from advancing armies, then watch the video.
