English Summary
Studio available for rent!
Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen is a unique site (UNESCO world heritage), which houses an artist community and center for contemporary art.
One of our studios will be available for rent shortly. The studio is 23 m2 in size and offers lodging facilities.
Kunstfort is near the city of Haarlem, and at 20 km distance from Amsterdam. The site is easily reached by car and public transportation.
If you are interested, please send us an email with a short motivation and a resume of your work. For further information about Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen and the conditions concerning renting a studio, please contact Gren Molenkamp via email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Artists shown in the past
Atelier van Lieshout, Danai Anesiadou (GR/B) & Alexandra Bachzetsis (GR/CH), Sven Augustijnen (B), Paul Baartmans, Guy Bahir (ISR), Maria Barnas & Germaine Kuip, Maura Biava (I), Floor Bos, Ronald de Ceuster, Tom Claassen, Robbie Cornelissen, Anno Dijkstra, Stan Douglas (CAN), Chris Evans (UK), Andrea Fraser (USA), Ryan Gander (UK), Simone de Groot, Harm Hajonides, Marijna Hazen, Loes Heebink , Laura Horelli (FIN/D), Hans van Houwelingen, Hiroshi Inanaga (JP), Kyoko Inatome (JP), Saskia Jansen, Twan Janssen , Alevtina Kakhidze (UA), Ivo Kamphuis, Natasja Kensmil, Marcel van Kerkvoorde, Evelien Krijl, Meiro Koizumi (JP), Frank Konincks, Krijn de Koning, Jaap Kroneman, Gabriel Kuri (MEX), Gabriel Lester, Laurent Liefooghe (B), Shuo Liang (Ch), Joep van Liefland, Ingrid Mol, Andre Pielage, Antonis Pittas (GR), Daniel Pflumm (D/ZW ), Michelle Provenzano (USA), Nicole Raufeisen/Ryan Witt (Vancouver/Can) Sean Snyder (USA/D), Dieuwke Spaans, Pim Trooster, Hester Oerlemans, Ronald Ophuis, Jan Rothuizen, Peter Spaans, Serge Verheugen, Roy Villevoye, Jan Maarten Voskuil, Barbara Visser, Voet en Bisscheroux Maria Zervou (Gr)
A short history of the Fortress at Vijfhuizen and the Defence Line of Amsterdam
The Fortress at Vijfhuizen is part of the Stelling van Amsterdam (the Defence Line of Amsterdam), a complex of fortresses, dikes, locks and other structures in a large circle around the capital. These fortifications were constructed from around 1880 till 1920 (figure 1). In case of a military threat, the territories outside the circle could be inundated, while more than forty fortresses protected strategic points where roads, rivers or dikes intersected the defence line. In times of trouble the inundation fields could be flooded by as little as 40 centimetres of water, too shallow to use boats, whilst obstacles such as canals became invisible forming a threat to horse-drawn carriages. This defence line by water would protect Amsterdam and make it invincible.
Visiting Information
Address:
Fortwachter 1
2141 EE Vijfhuizen
The Netherlands
Opening times:
Fortress/exhibitions: Friday to Sunday, 13.00-17.00.
Estate/sculpture garden: Tuesday to Sunday, 10.00-22.00
Getting there:
A fast and frequent bus (nr.300) brings you every 8 to 15 minutes from railway stations Haarlem Centraal, Schiphol and Hoofddorp to Vijfhuizen. From the bus stop it is only a five minutes walk to the Kunstfort.
Take the Citadel, a bicycle and walking path between the new build houses in old style, on the side of the bus that goes to Amsterdam Bijlmer. Cross the bridge and turn to the right. Follow this dike (Geniedijk) until you see the fortress on your left.
Movie
Mission and vision
The art fortress is a centre for contemporary art. We develop exhibitions and provide artists with room to realise their ideas, from inspiration to exhibitions, publications and education. Our ambition is to gain a unique position in the art world by our strong combination of location, programme and project studios.
Artist in Residence
Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen offers artists a residency for a working period. The guest room has a bed, an Internet connection, TV, table and chair, a shower and toilet. Participants share one kitchen, equiped with washing machine and dryer. Exhibiting work at Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen is not included, unless on invitation.
Cost of renting a guest room is 200 euros per month (excl. VAT). Use of household facillities is included.
If available, we can provide an artist residing at Kunstfort with a studio room, to be used for work on projects. The cost of the studio is an extra 400 euros per month (excl. VAT).
The exhibition of work at Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen is not included, unless on invitation.
Please contact our office for more information about the availability of the rooms.
The foundation
The Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen foundation consists merely of non-paid volunteers. They initiated the restoration of the fortress and gave it its new destination as a centre for contemporary art. The fortress surroundings are an oasis of quietness near Haarlem, Amsterdam and Schiphol Amsterdam international airport. The location is within easy reach by car, bicycle and public transport (20 min. from Schiphol Amsterdam international airport).
The Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen foundation organises several exhibitions a year, rents art studios and course space and has project studios with guest rooms for temporary artist projects. The fortress also house a restaurant and three hotel rooms. The green surroundings are open to public during daytime. Next to the fortress island, twelve studio houses were build, thus creating a small community bringing new life to the fortress, making it a place where one can work, live, eat, drink and recreate.
