About GeoFort
GeoFort is an educational attraction situated on an exciting fort, which is part of the ‘Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie’. You can explore here all about X,Y,Z, cartography and navigation. GeoFort offers visitors old and new ‘Geo-techniques’ in the GeoExperience, the ‘Smart’ Maze, the Bat Trail Garden and an interactive 4D Globe, in which you can go millions of years back in time, just with the touch of your hand.
GeoFort also go it’s own 3D Cafe and a variation of meetingrooms & facilities.
The fortress
GeoFort is located in Fort bij de Nieuwe Steeg, owned by Staatsbosbeheer, the Dutch forestry commission. The historic fort complex is an intriguing combination of bygone buildings and exciting outdoor areas. Its central position within the Netherlands, its geopolitical associations and the multifaceted character of the fort provide ample opportunity for exciting and fun activities which present to the world outside the country’s rich geo-past, as well as the impressive geo-innovations of today.
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GeoFort is part of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie (New Dutch Waterline), which was a military line of defence. The line was established as a protective ring approximately 85 km long and 3-5 km wide around the Dutch cities of Muiden, Utrecht, Vreeswijk and Gorinchem. It was the main Dutch defence line from 1815 till 1940.
The Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie’s primary element of defence was water. Land was intentionally flooded (inundated) during times of war to obstruct the enemy. A layer of water of only 40 cm deep was enough to make the land difficult to pass for soldiers, vehicles and horses. At the same time, it was not deep enough to navigate by ship. By 1870, the waterline could be inundated within three weeks thanks to an ingenious system of sluices, dikes and flood canals.
Weak points along the natural defence line were strengthened with fortresses, bunkers and communal bunkers. In addition, the line included five fortified cities: Muiden, Weesp, Naarden, Gorinchem and Woudrichem.
Although the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie never had a chance to prove its worth as a line of defence, it was brought into a state of emergency three times. First in 1870, when the Franco-Prussian War threatened to turn into a European war. Second, during the First World War, and finally in 1939 when the Second World War broke out. Today, the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie acts as both an important hydraulic machine for the surrounding environment and as a window to the past.
Read more about the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie.
Sponsors
GeoFort acts as a communication platform between eductional institutes, businesses and the public and is an excellent business card for the geo-information sector in the Netherlands. To further develop GeoFort we depend on financial support from sponsors. The money we get through sponsorships is used for promotion of the geo-information sector by means of innovative exhibitions, educational projects and publicity.
Join us today and make GeoFort your business card! Download the flyer (in Dutch) or contact us for more information.
>> View the sponsors (in Dutch)
GeoFort acts as a communication platform between eductional institutes, businesses and the public and is an excellent business card for the geo-information sector in the Netherlands. To further develop GeoFort we depend on financial support from sponsors. The money we get through sponsorships is used for promotion of the geo-information sector by means of innovative exhibitions, educational projects and publicity.
Join us today and make GeoFort your business card! Download the flyer (in Dutch) or contact us for more information.
>> View the sponsors (in Dutch)
Partners
Over the years, several parties have contributed (either financially or in kind) to the realisation of GeoFort. You can find our partners here (in Dutch).
Over the years, several parties have contributed (either financially or in kind) to the realisation of GeoFort. You can find our partners here (in Dutch).
Organisation
GeoFort is the brainchild of two enthusiastic initiators, Willemijn Simon van Leeuwen (b. 1971) and Bart Bennis (b. 1966), whose X-factor is a passion for everything X, Y and Z. They have been working on their plan since September 2005. Bart and Willemijn are being supported by a staff in bringing about the completion of GeoFort and in developing and supervising its activities.
GeoFort has a Supervisory Board, a Board of Advisors and a Committee of Recommendation.
GeoFort is the brainchild of two enthusiastic initiators, Willemijn Simon van Leeuwen (b. 1971) and Bart Bennis (b. 1966), whose X-factor is a passion for everything X, Y and Z. They have been working on their plan since September 2005. Bart and Willemijn are being supported by a staff in bringing about the completion of GeoFort and in developing and supervising its activities.
GeoFort has a Supervisory Board, a Board of Advisors and a Committee of Recommendation.
Working at
GeoFort is a young and dynamic foundation run by a group of employees and volunteers. Want to join us? You can find our current job openings here (in Dutch).
GeoFort is a young and dynamic foundation run by a group of employees and volunteers. Want to join us? You can find our current job openings here (in Dutch).