Femme Hammer of the Fort of Hoofddorp

The hidden treasure of Hoofddorp

Femme, what is your link with Haarlemmermeer?  

I came to live in Haarlemmermeer when I was 12. As a child I had music lessons for years in the building next to the fort and always cycled past it. The fort immediately intrigued me. Something quickly struck me. Here in the area you could walk into a church or a mill where something was explained about the history of such a place. Such as photos of the relocation of Korenmolen de Eersteling. But you couldn't enter the fortress. The fort was closed and did not look inviting. 
 

Many years later, when my own children were at school and celebrating the evening four days, we walked past the fort. But none of the children knew what it was. Stories circulated that it was assumed that the fortress used to be a ruin, a castle or even a bunker. It fascinated me that nobody really knew what it was. 
 

How did you end up working at the Fort of Hoofddorp?  

I have worked as a theater producer for many years and I am an educationalist. I got the idea to combine my knowledge and open the fort to the public. That way people could learn something about their own local history. And we succeeded: our target group can now experience for themselves in what special place they live. 

How did the fort develop into what it is today? 

I went to the municipality with my plan. Here I found out that the ambition was already there to renovate the fort. Then I asked my good friend, architect Serge Schoemaker, to make a sketch of the idea. In the end, this became a design for the entire fortress island, building and landscape. In line with my vision for the use, but also with the opening to the public.
 

In 2014, we conducted a feasibility study and started financing. In 2016 we founded the Fort van Hoofddorp Foundation and in 2018 we started the renovation. In 2020 we were allowed to officially open our doors. 
 

What can you do in the Fort of Hoofddorp these days? 

The interior spaces are rented for 70% to catering entrepreneurs Fort NOXX. They have the upper floor with the restaurant, a meeting room and a banquet hall. Downstairs they have a small bar and also two terraces. One on the forecourt and one in the Wilde Tuin, on top of the island. 
 

In addition, two office spaces are used by consultancy firm RedFoxBlue. There are also general areas, such as the throat casemate, which now houses a photo exhibition, for example. On top of the fort is an intimate open-air theater. We organize the programming for this in collaboration with other local parties. Entrepreneurs and residents can also use the space on request. 

The common thread that runs through the concept is the realization that the fortress belongs to all of us and can be used accordingly. So also by the inhabitants and entrepreneurs of Haarlemmermeer. 
 

What is planned for the near future? 

In the summer, another weekend with open-air concert Duyck in the Fort will be organized. In addition, various summer concerts, including with Meer Jazz. Interested visitors can visit our agenda keep an eye on.  
 

We also organize a tour of the fort every first Saturday of the month. Guided tours can also be arranged on request. We also do team building activities by appointment. Such as the island game for groups where you can discover the history of the fort in a playful way.  

What makes your company unique in Haarlemmermeer? 

The Fort of Hoofddorp is unique as a fort from the Defense Line of Amsterdam because it consists of two floors. This is because of its location in relation to the dike. To be able to observe over the dike, this fort has been given an extra floor.  
 

The caponier – a defensive mechanism at the front of the fort – is still intact. And the fort has 2 retractable dome buildings that you can still enter through the inside. The corridor to the caponier is closed due to the fact that protected bats live here. It is clearly visible from the outside.  
 

What is also special is that the fort has now been built into the built-up area. This clearly shows how the polder has developed over the years. 
 

What are you proud of as a resident and entrepreneur in Haarlemmermeer? 

As far as the fort is concerned, I am proud that it has been possible to create a mixture of different target groups here. I have always heard in my work that it is best to choose only one target group to focus on. But at the fort I had the vision that it could be mixed up. Both commercial and volunteers, students next to artists. All those target groups now work together in the fort. Together they ensure the preservation and experience of diversity. 
 

I am also proud of the moment when we started this project. At the time, there was considerable resistance to putting heritage like this on the map. That is why I am now also a liaison officer between all heritage institutions in Haarlemmermeer, to connect the heritage with each other. I want to make heritage more approachable and accessible. The dusty image can be removed. I am very happy that there is also more attention from the municipality to realize this. 
 

The grounds of Fortress of Hoofddorp is always freely accessible. The fort itself is open when catering is open and otherwise by appointment. So come and take a look or ask by e-mail about the possibilities.