Stelling van Amsterdam - Artillery Establishments (Hembrug Ammunition Factory)

The site on the North Sea Canal in Zaandam, once a dredging depot, became the center of the Artillery Establishments from 1898 onward. Weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and helmets were produced, repaired, and stored here. Training for military personnel also took place.

The factory grew in line with international tensions and technological developments. During World War I, chemical gases were even produced. In the 1930s, experiments with mustard gas followed.

The workforce varied widely, from 1,500 to over 8,000. Anti-aircraft guns were located around the site, and nearby buildings such as the Havenstraat houses served as staff housing.

After World War II, the site was used for storage within the Defence Line of Amsterdam. The surrounding area remained largely intact, although the Hemspoorbrug and railway line were replaced by the Hemtunnel.

Today, the site is owned by the Ministry of Finance. Several buildings are designated national or municipal monuments.

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Source

• Text: TracesofWar
• Photos: TracesofWar
• stelling-amsterdam.nl