A 14th-century fortified Dutch town with earth ramparts, moats, and four corner bastions. Inside its walls lie medieval buildings and the historic Groote Kerk church.
Naarden, founded in the 14th century, lies 20 kilometers east of Amsterdam. Its star-shaped network of moats and earthworks, built for defense, becomes visible when viewed from above. Cross bridges over the double canals to reach cobblestone streets lined with 17th-century military buildings, the Gothic Grote Kerk with a tower dating to the 1400s, and underground tunnels at the Dutch Fortress Museum. Listen to Bach’s music in the church, where the acoustics enhance the performances, or watch volunteers demonstrate historical cannon drills on the bastions. From April to October, take a boat tour around the moats to see the town’s geometric layout up close.
The Star Fort and Defenses
Naarden’s most recognizable element is its double-layered star fort, built after 1673 to defend Amsterdam. Five bastions and two concentric moats create a geometric pattern best seen from the Grote Kerk tower or aerial photos. Follow the 3.5-kilometer path along the outer ramparts, where angled walls once held cannons and willow trees line the water’s edge. Below ground, the Vestingmuseum occupies original casemates, displaying soldier quarters and artillery storage. On the third Sunday of each month from May to September, volunteers dressed in 17th-century uniforms demonstrate firing a 12-pounder cannon during Garnizoensdagen.
Grote Kerk and Tower Climb
The Grote Kerk, completed in the 15th century, rises 68 meters above Naarden. Climb 200 steps to the belfry, passing the clock mechanism and carillon bells, to see the town’s star-shaped layout and the Gooimeer lake. Attend the annual St. Matthew Passion performance on Good Friday, a tradition since 1922, where choirs sing beneath the church’s wooden vaulted ceiling. Inside, a plaque commemorates the 1572 Naarden Massacre, when Spanish forces killed most of the population during the Eighty Years’ War. The baroque organ, installed in 1671, and stained-glass windows add character to the interior.
Dutch Fortress Museum
The Vestingmuseum, located in the southern bastions, details Naarden’s military history through interactive displays and preserved structures. Walk through underground tunnels once used to move artillery and explore a recreated 19th-century guardroom with original weapons. Outside, six restored cannons face the moats, some allowing visitors to touch and take photos. Temporary exhibits focus on events like the French occupation of 1813-1814, using maps and diaries from soldiers. Families can try on replica helmets or join scavenger hunts through the museum’s casemates.
Events and Reenactments
During Garnizoensdagen, held on the third Sunday from May to September, the fortress comes alive with blacksmithing demos, musket drills, and cannon firings. Visitors sometimes help load replica gunpowder sacks under supervision. Every two years in May, the Naarden Photo Festival displays large-scale works by international photographers in public spaces and historic buildings. For an evening activity, join the “Police” role-playing game at the Vestingmuseum, where groups solve dilemmas inspired by World War II resistance stories.
Boat Tours and Walking Trails
From April to October, Vestingvaart Naarden runs 45-minute boat tours through the inner and outer moats. Guides explain defensive designs like “dead angles,” areas attackers couldn’t be targeted from, while pointing out herons nesting along the banks. Tickets cost €7 for adults and €5 for children aged 4–12. Walk the 17-kilometer Vestingpad trail around the ramparts, passing former bomb shelters and the Spanish House, a 1572 building now used as a private home. Rent a kayak at Gele Loods dock to paddle the outer canals on your own.
Restaurants and Hotels
Eat beneath brick arches at Restaurant Acquavite, set in 17th-century Promers barracks, which serves dishes like Zeeland scallops with saffron risotto. For lunch, Het Hert offers bitterballen and apple pie on a terrace facing the Grote Kerk. The Vesting Hotel, housed in a renovated 19th-century school, has 34 rooms blending minimalist design with exposed wooden beams. Book ahead for De Klooster’s six-course menu, pairing local ingredients like Gooi lamb with European wines.
Nearby Attractions
Visit Muiderslot, a medieval castle 15 minutes north of Naarden, or see 19th-century windmills in Weesp. In summer, stop at IJssalon Blaricum, 10 minutes east, for ice cream flavors like stroopwafel or Dutch licorice. Hike the Naardermeer nature reserve, Europe’s first protected area, to spot otters and purple herons in wetland habitats. For modern architecture, explore Hilversum’s Media Park, home to the Institute for Sound and Vision, which covers Dutch broadcasting history.
Getting to Naarden
Take a 20-minute train ride from Amsterdam Centraal to Naarden-Bussum station, with hourly connections to Utrecht and Amersfoort. From the station, walk 15 minutes or take bus line 110 for a five-minute ride to the fortress entrance. Drivers follow the A1 motorway east to exit 5, using paid parking lots outside the moats. The Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket includes buses and trains between Amsterdam and Naarden.
