Dutch micro-island: visit Forteiland Pampus

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Latest update: 16 October 2024

Pampus was once nothing more than a shipping channel. That is hard to imagine when you visit Forteiland Pampus now. You can explore the fort, hang out on the terrace, eat delicious food, and even join workshops. So, let’s hop on the ferry and discover Pampus!

Ferry to Pampus

I take the ferry to Pampus from Muiden. It is a short trip of about 20 minutes but long enough to get into the holiday vibes. What is it with boat trips? In the distance I quickly see Pampus. It really is a tiny island (205×146 meters). In the sun it almost feels tropical – very not Dutch.

Exploring Fortress Island Pampus

From the ferry you can walk straight into the restaurant, where you can start your visit with a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. And maybe you’ll end your visit here with a Pampus beer?

You are free to wander through the fort. Follow the signage and learn The Story of Pampus with the help of bits of film and sound. And above all, make your own plan and explore the paths and corners. That way you get a good idea of the fort. Sometimes, you end up in a dark, narrow corridor, then again in an almost ruin-like setting.

There is also a fun attraction: Het Wapen van Amsterdam. You get into a virtual hot air balloon and learn about Amsterdam’s Defense Line. You fly virtually over the city of Amsterdam and the surrounding area. A pretty cool and informative experience! I was afraid I would find it childish, but it is really well made.

History of the channel and the island of Pampus

The Defence Line of Amsterdam is a series of defence forts, bunkers and more intended to protect Amsterdam. Fort Island Pampus is part of this Defence Line. It was built at the end of the 19th century. They created this island with a fort at the Pampus channel. Almost 4,000 piles of 11 meters were needed. During the First World War, soldiers were stationed here, but they were terribly bored because they never saw any action. In 1933, Fort Island Pampus was closed again. There was a lot of plundering and squatting afterwards until a group of volunteers could no longer bear to watch the decay. In the 1990s, Fort Island Pampus was given a recreational purpose.

But the history of Pampus goes back much further. Pampus is near Amsterdam, on the border of the IJmeer and the Markermeer. In the past, this was the Zuiderzee, so you could sail to sea. The VOC ships sailed across the Zuiderzee to their destination and back again at the time (17th century). The shallow Pampus channel made it difficult for ships to reach the port of Amsterdam. Floats (ship camels) guided the heavily loaded ships into the port. One by one, so traffic jams were inevitable on the water. It could take days for a ship to lie in front of Pampus before being guided to the city.

Lying in front of Pampus

Yes, that is where the Dutch expression voor Pampus liggen ‘lying in front of Pampus’ comes from. Because while the sailors had to wait, they started drinking. Nowadays, it means something like being drunk, being overcome by the heat, or simply not being able to move.

There is a Pampus beer, a saison, so you can try to lie in front of Pampus yourself!

Sustainable island

The foundation that manages Pampus has been working on making the fortress island more sustainable since 2019. Think of solar panels and growing vegetables for the restaurant. Ultimately, Fort Island Pampus should be completely self-sufficient, without any connection to the mainland. A nice goal, right?

Visiting Fort Island Pampus

Plan your visit to Pampus well. In addition to regular access, fun things are regularly organized on Pampus. It is always wise to reserve your tickets online in advance. In the summer, for example, you can go there for the Summer Light Dinner and you can also sleep there. And there is also a winter version of the dinner. It’s a good dinner experience if you’re staying in the area.

How do you get to Pampus?

Pampus can only be reached by water. You can use the ferry service from Muiden (nice to combine with a day at Muiden and Muiderslot), the ferry service from Amsterdam, or come with your own canoe or SUP. You can find all the options for getting to Pampus here.

If you board the boat in Muiden, you can park your car here for free. It is about a ten-minute walk from the parking lot to the boat’s departure point.