Fort Uitermeer forms part of the "New Dutch Water Line" - a defence line built in the 1840' s - and is unique due to its strategic location on the river Vecht. I will not claim that the remains of the fort are beautiful, but they are an important part of Dutch history and therefore worth preserving. If you want to read more about defence lines jump to the informative website by René G.A. Ros (I).

An old rusty gun near the ruin - Summer 2007

The area though, is very recommendable and I like to be there just before sundown. You can sit on the small bridge and look at all the boats passing by at the river Vecht.

View from the small bridge - 2007

But maybe it won't be long before the fort looks a lot more different from what you can see today. As far as I know there are ambitious plans for the area. I found a temporary plan in Dutch which you can see a part of below. I don't know if the plan is good or bad, but it doesn't seem to be just as peaceful a place as it is now if the project is implemented. Many things looks good on paper or on a sketch but when it comes to reality it looks quite different. What worries me the most is not what you can see on the sketch but what you can't see - and that is the vehicles. There will be plenty of cars if this plan gets to reality. If you look at the sketch below you can see there will be a restaurant, a theatre and a place for bed & breakfast. Although the Dutch in general are fund of their bicycles, it's not all of them, who will arrive cycling and that will destroy the peace and the charm.

You can read more about it if you follow the link below. Unfortunately, the website is only written in Dutch. The sketch below is borrowed from the same website. (II).

 

The new plan  - Fort Uitermeer

 

Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

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