History and transformation of this abandoned house
't Hammetje, also known as Hammetjes Paradijs , officially Ham Viswaterplas, is a plot with a fairytale fortress on the Domstraat north of the canalised river Laak near the Vathorst district in Amersfoort. The structure is a folly and previously did not have the function of a fortress. It has two towers, Willem | and Willem II. Part of the 8-hectare site consists of a desanding pond that was dug to enable the construction of the A28 motorway .
Inventor and namesake Willem Ham built it since 1988 as a fortress against the advancing Amersfoort. He planted the plot with trees and shrubs. He used boulders, rubble and sewage pipes as material for the fort. He combined this with other materials such as church windows, agricultural tools and figurines. In addition, he constructed islands with rubble, two of which he named after the Wadden Islands of Texel and Rottum. Another island, called Man, takes the form of a naked Eve straddling. This shape changed over the years due to vegetation.
In 1992 a report on his project was made in the television program Paradijsvogels . During the bird flu of 2003 and 2006, the poultry present had to be culled preventively, including hundreds of chickens, fowls, peacocks, ducks and geese. Ham also kept some other animals, such as sheep and ponies.
Before 1998, this estate was located in the outskirts of the municipality of Nijkerk. Due to a border change, part of the Laak-Noord area was added to the municipality of Amersfoort on 1 January 1998.
Ham sold his estate in July 2005 to the municipality of Amersfoort and the Development Company Vathorst, to enable a connection (Linksweg ) between Vathorst and entry and exit 8a of the A28. He died in 2006 after a short illness. The plot is not directly accessible to the public. Since then, theater productions with an audience have taken place at that location.
Visiting abandoned or unique structures like 't Hammetje offers a remarkable window into local history and creative architecture. From my own experience exploring similar sites, I’ve found that such places often hold stories of personal passion and community evolution. 't Hammetje stands out due to its unconventional materials—boulders, rubble, sewage pipes, and even church windows—showing how imagination transforms discarded items into art and functional spaces. The fortress’s construction starting in 1988 was not just about building a structure but creating a living environment with planted trees, islands named after Wadden Islands like Texel and Rottum, and even a creatively shaped island called Man. This blend of nature, art, and history is rare and showcases the possibilities when inventiveness meets landscape. Over the years, adaptations like the removal of poultry due to bird flu and the site’s integration into Amersfoort’s municipal borders reflect the real-life challenges and changes such locations endure. These elements make 't Hammetje not only a fortress but a narrative of resilience and community interaction. For enthusiasts of urbex photography and abandoned buildings, places like 't Hammetje provide rich visual and historical content. Although it's not directly accessible, theater productions held there invite visitors to experience this space uniquely. Exploring similar abandoned or creative structures has taught me to appreciate the layers of human effort, environmental interaction, and historical context intertwined in these sites. 't Hammetje is a perfect example of how personal vision can create landmarks that inspire both curiosity and cultural activities.
