The former Atlantic Wall near IJmuiden, The Netherlands. One of the largest and most important fortifications of the Atlantic Wall was 'Festung IJmuiden'. The entrance of the North Sea Canal was of great strategic importance to the Germans and IJmuiden was very suitable as a harbor for the German navy. The canal gave access to the industry of IJmuiden, the Zaanstreek and Amsterdam, and the lock complex made it possible to regulate the water in a large part of North Holland. Around IJmuiden, the Germans built a tank barrier of steep dunes, tank walls and tank ditches. Inside were dozens of coastal and anti-aircraft batteries, tank obstacles and bunkers. Fort Island in the middle of the North Sea Canal was extra heavily reinforced. For all those war works, many houses were demolished in Oud-IJmuiden near the harbors and at IJmuiden-Noord. Peaceful IJmuiden turned into a grim war zone.
