Once built to defend, now designed to connect. The Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie, a masterpiece of Dutch ingenuity, used the power of water and landscape to protect our cities from external threats. Today, that same landscape and spirit of defense inspire Grounded’s mission to protect us not from armies, but from the ecological and social crisis—and to unite citizens, artists, farmers, and youth in a movement for a healthy, happy, and ecological Utrecht.
Fort Lunet 1: A Historic Base for a Future Mission
Fort Lunet 1, Grounded’s home base, once played a key communicative role in times of crisis. Now, we revive that legacy—no longer with alarms and arms, but with workshops, music, food, art, and conversation. Where cannons once stood, people now gather. Where soldiers trained, youth now learn. The fortress is reborn as a beacon of community, creativity, and climate action.
The Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie forms a green ribbon between city and countryside. Grounded sees this as more than just a historic line—it’s a living boundary, an ecological bridge where biodiversity thrives and diverse communities meet. The forts are islands of nature where nature attracts nature, and where humans learn to be part of, not apart from, the ecosystem.
Fort 't Hemeltje: Where Grounded Took Root
Fort ‘t Hemeltje played a pivotal role in the Grounded story. It was here, in 2019, that the first Grounded Festival took place—offering a group of passionate young people the space and freedom to start something bigger than themselves. That gathering sparked a movement, and the energy of that moment still drives us today.
Our collaboration with Amped and the Compazz Foundation, both based at Fort ‘t Hemeltje, continues to be vital. Together, we’ve built a bridge between inspiration and action. Amped has initiated a network of farmers and entrepreneurs to collaborate for a just, robust, regional and regenerative food systems and the support of the Compazz foundation have helped multiple projects and opportunities emerge.
- Harvest Actions that connect city dwellers with local food systems.
- The Grounded Community Kitchen, where food becomes a tool for connection and empowerment.
- Community Farming Projects that regenerate land and relationships alike.
- Part-taking in EUprojects like: EU4Advice, Cleverfood, Cultivate,
- Regional network of farmers and entrepreneurs and institutions
- Global network of best practices and thought leaders
Fort ‘t Hemeltje is not just a historic site—it’s an ecosystem of change, and Grounded is proud to help sustain and protect it for future generations.
From Fortress to Force for Good
At Grounded, we believe that the past holds the key to a more sustainable future. Our events draw inspiration from history, while activating today’s generation to take responsibility for the region’s well-being. Through years of programming, we’ve turned Fort Lunet 1 and other forts into cultural and ecological hotspots:
- Open Monument Days (yearly 2020–2025): With farmer’s markets, local music stages, guided tours, and homemade cakes, we open the gates of heritage to new generations.
- Remembrance Day, May 4th (yearly 2020-2025): In partnership with the Utrecht Music School, Municipality, and Ministry of Defense, Grounded organizes an annual ceremony of reflection and gratitude—featuring music, silence, and the naming of fallen Utrechters. A ritual of remembrance that becomes a seed for peace.
- Lunettenparkmakers: In collaboration with Ludens Kind & Co, 5TIG, Koningshof, and others, we’ve created four Winter Festivals and four Spring Celebrations. These intergenerational events blend neighborhood warmth with artistic and ecological energy, making Lunettenpark a vital park with a vibrant integrated community
- Waterlinie Walks (2019–2022): From Fort ‘t Hemeltje to Fort De Klop to Fort Lunet 1, our walks activate heritage through movement, storytelling, and sustainable pop-ups—like markets and clothing swaps.
- Fort Markets and Season Openings: Ground has hosted multiple seasonal gatherings that breathe life into stone walls, bridging the historical with the contemporary, the ecological with the festive. Sharing farmer produce and local crafts.
Stories Rooted in the Soil
Together with the Province of Utrecht and Utrecht Food Freedom, we’ve explored the ancestral vegetables, recipes, and food heritage of the Waterlinie region. This research led to events that rediscover the culinary resilience embedded in the Dutch landscape—a story of plants and people that feeds the imagination and the future.
Education That Moves Minds
Grounded believes in education that doesn’t stay in the classroom. Through lectures, talks and organizing excursions across Dutch universities—including Utrecht, Wageningen, Erasmus, Delft, Leiden, and many more—Maarten Klop and the Grounded team have engaged over 8,400 students with the story of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie. We teach that this line of defense is not just history—it’s an invitation to act.
The Call of the Fortresses
In a time when climate change threatens our homes and harmony, the forts call on us again. But today, they call not for battle, but for creativity, community, and ecological renewal. Grounded answers this call by empowering youth, connecting urban life to rural roots, and turning heritage into a force for transformation.
From the green line of fortresses, a greener Utrecht begins.
