We went to Lentelicht at Forteiland Pampus this spring and thought: ‘Wow, this is a great tip!’ And wouldn't you know it, they have so much more fun planned for this spring and summer. Over the coming months, Pampus will transform into a place where you can not only eat but also stay the night; in short, an escape from the city. Exactly the kind of outing you’ll want to put on your greener list. So, we’re doing just that. Here it is!
Forteiland Pampus: a self-sufficient island!
Forteiland Pampus was built in the late 19th century to defend Amsterdam and had to be completely self-sufficient. There was space for water storage, food supplies, and even its own power supply, so that hundreds of soldiers could survive there for months without outside help. And the idea of self-sufficiency never really disappeared. Today, Pampus still generates its own energy, using wind turbines and a bio-digester that converts organic waste into energy, among other things. Surpluses are stored, for example in the form of hydrogen, so that this energy can be used again later when the wind isn't cooperating. Quite special, because while you're walking through those old corridors, you're actually in the middle of an example of how it could – and should – work in many more places in the future.
Eating during Spring Light on Fort Island Pampus
And then there's the food, because that's of course also why you're here. At Lentelicht, everything revolves around the first spring vegetables, the ‘firsts’, with a menu that moves with what's coming from the land at that moment. In our case, that was asparagus, but we'll skip a few steps now. How do you get to the island? By boat from IJburg (and on some evenings, departure is from Muiden), which is included on a Lentelicht evening. Less than three-quarters of an hour later, we were warmly welcomed to the island. While you're having your first bites, you'll hear more about Pampus and its culinary philosophy. This is inspired by Slow Food and the ‘Ark of Taste’, an international list of special and endangered regional products that they aim to preserve by using them. Local and seasonal, therefore. We started with a starter in the summer pavilion, which offers a beautiful view over the water. Afterwards, we were able to explore the fort at our own pace and finally, we sat down in the pavilion for the main course (asparagus!) and a dessert ‘an Amsterdamse bolus with medlar jam’. With a bit of luck, you'll have a front-row seat to a brilliant red sunset!
Less than an hour from Amsterdam, you'll find Pampus Island Fort. One evening there and you'll feel like you've escaped it all!
From Summerlight to camping on Pampus this summer!
And the great thing is, this doesn't stop after Lentelicht. In the summer, Pampus will continue with Zomerlicht, from mid-July to the end of August, with dinners on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. The same concept, but on long evenings. If you want to make it even more special, you can stay the night. On Wednesdays, you can have a more relaxed experience with an island meal. And from Thursday to Saturday, you can combine it with one of these Zomerlicht evenings. You can then sleep in a tent on the island or opt for the Mistklokhuis if you're looking for a bit more luxury. It's precisely these kinds of outings where you can truly get away, without travelling far. So, our tip: keep an eye on it and book in time, because these kinds of evenings fill up faster than you think.
Discover more about the activities on the island!
More tips near Amsterdam
- Also see: The evenings at the Maaltuin come highly recommended.
- Also see: Do you know Choux? Fine dining near Amsterdam CS.
- Also see: Eating out at Over-Amstel also fits perfectly on your greener bucket list.
Photo credits: main image: thegreenlist.nl (left and centre), Pampus Fortress Island (right). Other: Pampus & thegreenlist.nl (top left).
