The best traffic-free bike rides around Castricum

Very beautiful old mill, in the middle of beautiful nature.

The Fort aan den Ham near Uitgeest is one of the smallest forts of the Stelling van Amsterdam and was built between 1896 and 1903, after the railway line between Uitgeest and Krommenie had created a new strategic access. The line ran on an elevated railway embankment between the forts Veldhuis and Krommeniedijk and could therefore not be blocked by flooding (inundations). The fort was intended to control this important transport route and to prevent the advance of an attacker in case of war. The facility was designed for a garrison of around 170 soldiers. Unlike the larger forts, it only had machine guns for close defense. Two retractable gun turrets were equipped with 6-cm cannons. Support fire could be provided by the neighboring forts. South of the fort, there was also an additional gun position. During the Second World War, the cannons and the steel parts of the turrets were removed by the German occupying forces, and the turret structures were partially blown up. After the end of its military use, the fort served as an ammunition depot until the 1980s. It then stood empty for a few years. In 1995, the Stichting Fort aan den Ham was founded to preserve the historic structure and make it accessible to the public. Today, the fort houses a military history museum, largely run by dedicated volunteers. Several rooms have been furnished as authentically as possible and give an impression of the soldiers' lives about a hundred years ago. Among other things, the infirmary, crew quarters with bunk beds, officers' rooms, and historical sanitary facilities can be seen. The exhibition is supplemented by thematic areas on the German occupation 1940–1945, the invasion of 1799, the Beverwijk line, Dutch military history in Indonesia, as well as historical radio and communication technology. A scouting museum is also housed in the fort. Fort aan den Ham thus combines military history, landscape, and water defense, and vividly demonstrates how the Stelling van Amsterdam was once intended to function. Throughout the year, a volunteer day takes place every Wednesday and almost every second Saturday of the month. Opening hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission price is 5 EUR for adults.

The mill is worth a visit

Cycling on unpaved MTB trails is prohibited after 10:30 AM. Paved bike paths are no problem.

Enjoy cycling along the dike with hardly any obstacles and little traffic. Meanwhile, beautiful views on both sides, like this one.

Another bridge

The entire tour follows well-maintained paths through diverse landscapes, meadows, dunes, and forests. If you're not riding in midsummer, it's a good idea to pack a jacket, as the wind blows freshly, and it's quite cold in the forest. In the off-season, the route is sparsely used by other cyclists and road cyclists. You'll often be alone in the great outdoors. The paths are mostly paved and two-lane, with no car traffic. There are also many hiking and horseback riding trails. The photos don't even begin to convey how beautiful this tour is.

Fort aan den Ham is a fort of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. It is located on the railway line from Uitgeest to Krommenie. The earthen ramparts, the first part of this defence work, date from 1896, the fort itself was completed in 1903. Originally, this fort was not included in the plans of 1880, but this became necessary due to the newly formed access that arose after the construction of the Amsterdam – Alkmaar railway line. Because this railway line between Uitgeest and Krommenie was on a slope, exactly between the larger forts Veldhuis and Krommeniedijk, a fort was built next to this railway line to control this railway embankment. The fort closed off these entrances in wartime. In 1896, earthen ramparts were constructed on the fort site and in 1902-1903 the bomb-proof buildings followed.[1] In 1908, a concrete secondary battery was built south of the fort.[1] Heavy guns were placed here to fire at the approaching enemy from a greater distance. The adjacent Rijksweg, the current N203, was completed in 1934 and runs parallel to the railway line.