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Hembrugterrein
Abandoned places in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Photo credit: Abandoned place near me
Photo credit: Abandoned place near me
Photo credit: Abandoned place near me
Once the beating heart of the Dutch arms industry, the Hembrugterrein in Zaandam is now a vast playground for urban explorers, photographers, and history enthusiasts. Hidden between overgrown paths and rusting steel, its abandoned factories, bunkers, and workshops tell the story of a secretive military production site that fueled the Netherlands’ defense industry for more than 100 years. Today, the site’s haunting mix of dereliction and creative reuse makes it a unique destination for urbex adventurers
History
History & Current Status
The Hembrugterrein has a history that stretches back to the late 19th century, when it was developed as the central production and storage facility for the Artillerie Inrichtingen (Artillery Establishments), the state-run arms and ammunition factory. Strategically located between Amsterdam and Zaandam, the site was deliberately isolated, hidden within dense forests and surrounded by waterways to reduce the risks of explosions.
During its peak in the early 20th century, the Hembrugterrein employed thousands of workers who produced rifles, ammunition, and explosives for the Dutch army. Its many workshops, bunkers, and warehouses were connected by a network of narrow-gauge railways, enabling safe transport of dangerous materials. The area was strictly off-limits to the public, guarded as a military secret.
In World War II, the site was used by the German occupiers, who continued arms production under heavy surveillance. After the war, Hembrug remained vital to Dutch defense, but by the 1970s and 1980s, production slowed as the arms industry declined. In 2003, the site was finally abandoned as a military production area, leaving behind dozens of decaying industrial buildings, bunkers, and storage facilities.
Since then, the Hembrugterrein has become a symbol of industrial decline and urban exploration. While much of the site sat abandoned for years attracting urbex explorers, graffiti artists, and photographers recent decades have brought new life. Parts of the terrain have been repurposed into cultural hubs, art studios, restaurants, and event venues, blending heritage with modern use. However, many areas still lie in atmospheric ruin, offering a rare glimpse into a world frozen in time.
Today, the Hembrugterrein represents the perfect mix of decaying history and creative renewal. It remains one of the most fascinating urbex locations in the Netherlands, where crumbling warehouses, rusting machinery, and military relics coexist with a vibrant cultural scene
Disclaimer
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Location is not open to public
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