Forteiland IJmuiden hosts meetings, seminars and company events for groups of 10 to 600 people. The fort stands on an island at the mouth of the North Sea Canal in IJmuiden, about 35 minutes by car from Amsterdam. It is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is run by the activity organiser PBN.
Seminars and company events
The meeting offer is called the Vergaderfort and suits groups of 12 to 250 people for a morning, an afternoon or a full day. Every meeting room has wireless internet, a projector with screen and sound, a flip chart and a coffee machine. A fixed camera lets you stream a session to remote participants. For a team day, the operator also sells half-hour breaks and full afternoon programs such as abseiling, trapeze jump, speedboat rides, archery, an escape room and a guided history tour, all led by its own team.
Other formats exist for larger groups. A day exploration program takes 20 to 400 people. A company festival takes 250 to 600 people and uses the island exclusively for one day, with the boat crossing, entrance, food and drinks, entertainment and activities included. A year-end evening format takes 20 to 400 people. The whole island can be hired for up to 600 guests for an afternoon, a day or an evening, and the operator states that the event programs are weatherproof.
Rooms and capacities
God's Window is a boardroom inside a German bunker, with a view over the canal mouth and plenty of daylight. It takes up to 24 people in plenary layout and comes with a sub-room.
The Manschapsverblijven are former soldiers' quarters on the ground floor. Eight of them are set up as meeting rooms of about 50 square meters each, with a projector and screen. Each takes up to 20 people in meeting layout or 56 in theater layout, and they share a foyer with a terrace.
The Koepelzaal is on the second floor, covers about 265 square meters and has vaulted ceilings. It seats up to 180 people in theater layout and has a sound system with two microphones, its own bar and a large terrace. Next to it, the Pantsergallerij takes up to 250 people in theater layout on about 200 square meters. It has its own bar and terrace, but no standard audiovisual equipment. The operator describes it as the only intact armored gallery of its kind, with a steel dome about one meter thick.
Catering
The menu runs from a burger bar and several barbecue formats to five-course shared dining. The operator sources seasonal and regional products where it can and takes dietary requests into account.
Accommodation
There are no bedrooms on the island. For a team weekend of 20 to 150 people, the operator combines the fort and its pavilion Nova Zembla with an overnight stay in a Leonardo hotel in IJmuiden.
Getting there
Guests reach the island by boat. The departure point is Kop van de Haven, Sluisplein 80, in IJmuiden. The operator gives a drive time of 35 minutes from Amsterdam and offers a site visit before booking. A virtual 360-degree tour of the locations is available on its website.
