Vijfhuizen: Kunstfort, Waterline and Memorial Site

You can get to know Vijfhuizen through several specific themes: art at Kunstfort, the history of the Stelling van Amsterdam and remembrance of the victims of the MH17 plane crash. There are also walking and cycling routes, as well as a canoe route on the Ringvaart. When planning your trip, it is worth deciding on your focus early: visiting hours and route information lead to different day plans.

Kunstfort and the Waterline

Kunstfort Vijfhuizen is located on an island near Meerwijkplas in Vijfhuizen and is part of the Stelling van Amsterdam Waterline. Exhibitions are held across the entire fort island, and installations and artworks are displayed outdoors. As the exhibition programme changes, check the current opening times before your visit. The exhibition in the fort building is open weekly from Thursday to Sunday, from 1 to 5 pm.

12 SLAG is also on the Fietsroute Water. This route leads to Vijfhuizen, passes the modern Gemaal Koning Willem I pumping station and then follows the Geniedijk towards Fort bij Vijfhuizen. This sequence gives you specific landmarks to help plan your route. The Geniedijk itself is part of the historic Stelling van Amsterdam defensive line, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a popular cycling and walking route, as well as an important ecological corridor. In the wider regional area, the Geniedijk is 12 kilometres long, runs through Hoofddorp and ends in Aalsmeer.

The Vijfhuizerbrug is a distinct reference point in the history of construction: it is a bascule bridge over the Ringvaart, built in 1931. The bridge, dike and fort represent different aspects of regional history; the Fietsroute Water specifically follows the Geniedijk towards Fort bij Vijfhuizen.

Park and remembrance

Park Vijfhuizen is a recreational area with a children's playground, the MH17 memorial forest and a monument. The Nationaal Monument MH17 commemorates the 298 victims of the plane crash with 298 trees; each tree represents one victim. An intimate amphitheatre and an impressive monument offer space for reflection, comfort and hope. The park also has numerous walking and cycling routes. When planning, you can therefore distinguish between routes through the recreational area and a visit to the memorial site.

Duck decoy and routes

The historic duck decoy in Vijfhuizen is on the municipal monuments list. It consists of two hectares of coppice woodland with a rectangular pond measuring approximately 40 by 40 metres and a catching pipe at each corner. The duck decoy is considered a unique natural monument, with approximately 100 plant species and 32 tree species. The pond's approximate dimensions and the arrangement of the catching pipes give you a concrete impression of the layout of this historic site.

The purple circular Ommetje Vijfhuizen route runs along the edge of Vijfhuizen. Markings and access may change; check the information before setting out. On the water, the Spaarne & Mooie Nel canoe route follows the Ringvaart of the Haarlemmermeer and continues past Vijfhuizen. This offers two different planning options: a circular route along the edge of the village and a canoe route on the water. Check the official route information before canoeing.

Getting there and planning your trip

You can reach Park Vijfhuizen from Schiphol, Haarlem or Hoofddorp by taking R-Net bus 300 to the EXPO Greater Amsterdam stop. Free parking is available next to Camperplaats N205. Check the R-Net 300 travel information before setting off.

If you are looking for a hotel for your trip to Vijfhuizen, it is best to first decide which visits will shape your stay: the exhibition at Kunstfort, routes in the park or along the Geniedijk, or the MH17 memorial site. This will help you take the relevant visiting hours and route information into account when planning your travel days.

Discover more destinations: Schiphol, Zwanenburg, Badhoevedorp, Hoofddorp, Halfweg, Lijnden, Schiphol-Rijk, Nieuw-Vennep.

For the main travel overview: Haarlemmermeer.