Night of the Night: Fairy Tales and Ghosts in Fort aan den Ham | Saturday, October 24, 2026
An old fortress. Hardly any lighting. And somewhere in the darkness you have to search for clues.
Sounds like the beginning of an exciting film. Except here you pay five euros for a leading role.
On Saturday, October 24, 2026, Fort aan den Ham in Uitgeest will be transformed into a fairytale and mysterious place – the “Night of Night”. A scavenger hunt through the fortress, candles, oil lamps, and free hot chocolate await you.
And the best part? You don't even have to go far from home to get a little scared.
A scavenger hunt where the lights can be turned off.
Forget about brightly lit corridors and signs that show you exactly the way.
On this special evening, you will embark on an adventure through Fort aan den Ham, which for this occasion will only be illuminated by candles and oil lamps.
The theme is fairy tales and ghosts. And an old military fortress is, of course, the perfect place for it.
Because let's be honest: A scavenger hunt in an ordinary sports hall just isn't that exciting.
The trip is suitable for children aged four and up. But luckily, adults are allowed to come along too. Even if they just pretend they aren't afraid at all.
A fortress with a past
Fort aan den Ham is part of Amsterdam's defensive line and was completed in 1903. Its original purpose was to defend the railway line between Uitgeest and Krommenie.
Today the fortress is a museum. There you can still find all sorts of traces of its military past, from old residential quarters to original installations.
Even during the day it is a special sight. But as soon as the sun sets and the oil lamps are lit, this place suddenly takes on a completely different atmosphere.
And no, we're not going to claim that there are real ghosts walking around here.
But we wouldn't be the first to enter a dark corridor.
First the shock, then hot chocolate
After all that searching, there is thankfully something to look forward to: a free cup of hot chocolate.
An excellent reward for everyone who survived the scavenger hunt.
The evening lasts from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Advance registration is possible, but according to the organizers, you can also just drop by spontaneously.
Practical and good to know
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Location: Fort aan den Ham
Address: Busch en Dam 13, 1911 MS Uitgeest
Activity: A fairytale and spooky scavenger hunt through the fortress
Lighting: Candles and oil lamps
Age: 4 years and up
Children's admission: €4
Adult admission: €5
Bonus: Free cup of hot chocolate
Registration: via email to info@fortaandenham.nl or simply drop by.
Official information: https://www.fortaandenham.nl/zaterdag-24-oktober-2026-nacht-van-de-nacht/
5 facts about Fort aan den Ham
The fortress was built to protect a railway line. Apparently, train delays used to be a problem of national importance.
171 soldiers could stay overnight there. And sometimes you'll find a holiday home for four people already pleasantly overcrowded.
The original toilets are well over 120 years old. Apparently, some things really were built better back then.
The fortress served as an ammunition depot for years. Not a place where you'd accidentally knock over a candle.
Prince Bernhard opened a clubhouse there in 1998. Thus, even the royal family knew how to find Uitgeest.
Do you dare to go into the darkness?
We like trips that are a little different.
And visiting a historic fortress while most people are sitting at home on the sofa? We think that's an excellent way to spend a Saturday evening.
If you're staying at Boutique Stay Uitgeest , you don't even have to travel far for this special excursion. Bundle up, head to Fort aan den Ham, and discover how different a familiar place looks after sunset.
And should you hear a rustling sound while you're out and about…
Probably just the wind.
Probably.
This event is part of Uitgeest's local events calendar. The full events calendar can be found at https://www.boutiquestay.nl/uitagenda