“The climatic conditions are ideal. Thick walls, a layer of sand on top, so humidity is ideal. Actually, the environment to mature cheese,” explains René Koelman van Kaasfort Amsterdam.
A dream in fulfillment
The idea of allowing cheeses to mature in a fort, arose years ago. In France, the famous Comté-Kaas has been kept in forts for some time and in Noord-Holland, Koelman saw wine in an old fortress.
“Together I thought: this is my dream. We started in 2007 and in 2021 we put the first cheeses in it,” he says. “The fort was once there to protect Amsterdam and it is now there to protect traditional cheese.”
Nine cheese mooring rooms
The Kaasfort now has nine different rooms, each with its own climate. This way the correct ripening condition can be created for every type of cheese. Koelman: “For example, we have a special white fungus room. There is a constant mist, because those fungi need moisture and air to develop.”
In addition to the ripening rooms, there are also test rooms, storage rooms and offices. Because making cheese is one thing, but tasting and sharing knowledge is just as important, Koelman emphasizes.
Craft
For Koelman, the Kaasfort goes further than just a place to keep cheeses. He also wants to turn it into a cheese knowledge center. “If we don’t do our work well, there will soon be only industrial cheese. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is pretty boring. This is really traditional cheese and we want to honor it.”
Open Monument Day: Built to stay
During Heritage Day 2025, the fort will open its doors to the public for the first time. The national theme this year is ‘built to stay’ – and that certainly applies to Fort Zuidwijkermeer. “We have had the key since 2015 and every year was asked when the fort would open. We hardly have to do anything about it, it was actually perfect. Now we want to show it – and let the cheese taste, of course,” says Koelman.
The Kaasfort on the Kanaalweg in Assendelft is open on Saturday 13 September from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors get a look at the ripening rooms and in the original rooms of the fort itself.
Regional heritage in the spotlight
Heritage Day is the largest cultural event in the Netherlands. Thousands of monuments open their doors to the public for free this weekend. Various historic locations can also be visited in Beverwijk, Wijk aan Zee and the surrounding villages, including Huize Westerhout, Museum Kennemerland and the Grote Kerk in Beverwijk.
For visitors to one of the monuments there is a free overview map and brochure available with all participating monuments in the region.