By Michele 
Hammetje, affectionately known as Hammetjes Paradijs and officially designated as Ham Viswaterplas, occupies a charming piece of land graced by a fanciful fortress located on Domstraat, just north of the canalized river Laak near the Vathorst district in Amersfoort. Originally conceived as a folly rather than a functional stronghold, the structure consists of two towers named Willem I and Willem II. Within the sprawling 8-hectare grounds lies a desanding pond, originally dug out to aid in the construction of the nearby A28 motorway.
Conceived and brought to life by Willem Ham, the fortress’s namesake, construction began in 1988 as a whimsical response to the encroaching urban landscape of Amersfoort. Adorned with trees, shrubbery, and constructed from eclectic materials including boulders, rubble, and repurposed sewage pipes, the fortress also features a unique assortment of embellishments such as church windows, agricultural implements, and figurines. Islands within the property, crafted from rubble, bear names inspired by the Wadden Islands, including Texel and Rottum, while a distinctive island named “Man” takes the form of a reclining nude Eve, evolving over time with the growth of surrounding vegetation.
In 1992, Ham’s creative endeavor captured the attention of the television program Paradijsvogels, showcasing his unique vision to a wider audience. However, the property faced challenges during the bird flu outbreaks of 2003 and 2006, resulting in the preemptive culling of poultry inhabitants including chickens, fowl, peacocks, ducks, and geese. Alongside these feathered residents, Ham maintained a menagerie that included sheep and ponies.
Prior to 1998, the estate resided on the periphery of Nijkerk municipality until a border adjustment on January 1, 1998, saw a portion of the Laak-Noord area incorporated into the municipality of Amersfoort.
In July 2005, Ham made the decision to sell his beloved estate to the municipality of Amersfoort and the Development Company Vathorst. This transaction paved the way for the creation of a vital connection, the Linksweg, linking Vathorst with entry/exit 8a of the A28 motorway. Tragically, Ham passed away in 2006 after a brief illness. While the plot remains inaccessible to the general public, the site has since hosted theater productions, welcoming audiences to experience its unique ambiance.