The Scherfvrij onderkomen aan de Lagedijk is an old military building. It was constructed between 1916 and 1919, and is one of the newer parts of the defence line which was used to protect Amsterdam from invasion. The defence line is a unique fortification which controls the flow of water. A network of pumps and canals would drain areas of land during peace time, and allow them to be quickly flooded again in the event of war.
