About us
'ABOUT US'
1. AIMS OF THE IFC
2. DATA PROTECTION
3. REPORTS FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
1. Aims of the International Fortress Council
The IFC, and its members aim exclusively towards encouraging the maintenance of historic forts, defensive works and military architecture, and the furtherance of knowledge and information thereof. It maintains and furthers contacts between its members, the exchange of their knowledge and experience, and information on activities of its members.
The purpose of the association can be fostered in a variety of ways, but the IFC does not aim at developing the same activities as its members, such as the organization of excursions, journeys, congresses, the edition of a magazine etc.
Membership
Membership of the IFC is open to organizations only. Full members of the IFC are active in the whole state in which they are established (or at least representing it), they are open to anyone, and they are not public authorities nor totally dependent on public authorities. Other non-voting membership is open to organizations that are public authority or are totally dependent on public authorities. Organizations and individuals can be invited as observer.
History
The International Fortress Council (IFC) was founded at The Hague (the Netherlands) in 1989 by the following organizations interested in the study of fortifications: Simon Stevin VVC (Belgium; VVC stands for Vlaams Vestingbouwkundig Centrum or Flemish Fortress Centre); Deutsche Gesellschaft für Festungsforschung (DGF, Germany); Fortress Study Group (FSG, U.K.), and the initiator, the Stichting Menno van Coehoorn (The Netherlands; Stichting means Foundation).
Later similar organizations joined the IFC: Association Vauban (France); Nacionalna Udrug za Fortifikacije (NUF, Croatia), Czech Association for Military History (CAMH, Czech Republic), Frënn vun der Festungsgeschicht Lëtzebuerg (FFGL, Luxemburg), Association Saint-Maurice d’Etudes Militaires (ASMEM, Switzerland); Coast Defence Study Group (CDSG, USA); Österreichische Gesellschaft für Festungsforschung (ÖGF, Austria); the Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna (Malta Heritage Trust), and the Associação Portuguesa dos Amigos dos Castelos- APAC (Portugal)
Statutes
See statutes.
The International Fortress Council is a full volunteer organization, which means that no salaries or allowances are granted (see also the financial reports from the Treasurer).
Activities
The contacts between the members are sustained by the General Assembly of the delegates once a year, each time in another European town where a member has its seat, and via the secretariat. In 2009 the meeting was in Visegrad Castle of Prague, in 2010 at Saint-Maurice in Switzerland, and in 2011 in the Castle City of Karlovac (Croatia). In 2012 the city of Luxembourg was hosting the meeting. In 2013 the IFC convened in Utrecht (Netherlands). The 2014 meeting was in Portsmouth (UK). In 2015 it was in Antwerp (Fort V) (Belgium), in 2016 in Toulon (France) and the most recent one in Jülich (Germany) in 207. The 2018 General Assembly convened in Fort Bard in the Aosta Valley, Savoie, Italy, October 12th. The 2019 General Assembly will be on 10th October 2019 in Graz (Austria).
The quarterly calendar “Forttours”, edited in cooperation with the CDSG.
The preparation of a Multilingual Fortification Dictionary (MFD) based on a collection of drawings and pictures.
The Executive Board of the IFC
President: mr. Andreas Kupka
Vice-President: mr. Marc Gayda
Treasurer: Maj Gen. (ret.) Evert Westerhuis
Secretary-general: Jeroen van der Werf
Member: mr Dave Bassett
10.5cm turret at Artillery Work Furggels (Switzerland), visited by the IFC-members from the US and the UK, hosted by IFC-member ASMEM (see for details under tab Members).
2. European General Data Protection Regulation
The International Fortress Council (IFC), inscribed in the Chamber of Commerce in Utrecht (Netherlands) under number 30223400, is responsible for personal data as stated in this declaration.
IFC can be contacted: www.internationalfortresscouncil.org . Secretariat: Mariaplaats 51, 3511 LM Utrecht (Netherlands), tel. +31 30 2312230,
email: secretariat@internationalfortresscouncil.org.
The secretariat is responsible for collecting and keeping personal data of organisations that are member of IFC. The secretariat follows the European General Data Protection Regulation, incorporated in the Netherlands Data Protection Regulation (Algemene Verordening Gegevensbescherming).
Personal data
IFC collects data on representatives of member-organisations of IFC. The member-organisation implictly agrees when supplying these data. Collected personal data are:
- Address of the member-organisation
- Telephone of the member-organisation
- Email address of the member-organisation
- Name of representatives of the member-organisation
- Telephone of the member-organisation’s representative
- Email address of the member-organisation’representative
Sensitive personal data
IFC has no intention of collecting data on visitors of IFC’s website.
What are personal data used for?
IFC collects personal data to:
- communicate with member-organisation through their designated representative(s)
Automated decisions
IFC does not leave any decision-making to computers or by using computer programmes.
How long personal data are stored
IFC keeps personal data as long as the organisation is member of IFC and the member-organisation has appointed its representative with IFC. After termination of a person’s role as representative his personal data are immediately removed.
Sharing personal data with third parties
IFC does not share personal data with third parties, unless obliged to do so under Netherlands law.
Cookies or comparable techniques
IFC does not use cookies or comparable techniques.
3. REPORTS FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
Utrecht, October 1st, 2021.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
On the period October 1st, 2019 to October 1st, 2021
General Assembly
On October 11th, 2019 the IFC held its 29th General Assembly in Graz (Austria). Most member organisations were present or were represented. The Österreichische Gesellschaft für Festungsforschung (ÖGF) hosted the conference.
On Friday we visited the city of Graz. The Landeszeughaus and the Plans Reliefs of the city deserve a special mention. Saturday the 12th was filled with visits to various fortified towns around Graz. This gave an interesting insight in the rich and diverse military heritage of Austria.
Due to the COVID-pandemic there was no General Assembly in 2020. It was postponed until 2021.
Executive Board
The Executive Board of the IFC consists of:
Mr Andreas Kupka, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Festungsforschung, President IFC
Mr Marc Gayda, Association Vauban, Vice-President IFC
Mr Kees Neisingh, Secretary-General IFC
Mr Jeroen van der Werf
Mr Evert Westerhuis, Treasurer IFC
Mr David Bassett, Fortress Study Group
The Executive Board convened in London in Febuary 2020 and on-line in Febuary 2021.
At the General Assembly in Luxembourg Jeroen van der Werf will officially take over the function of Secretary-General from Kees Neisingh.
New IFC members
The Rete della Fortificatzioni (Italy) is now a member of the IFC. They will attend the General Assembly in Luxembourg.
Via the Association Vauban (AV) contacts were made in Portugal, Poland and Greece. The AV keeps in touch with them. At this moment there is a chance that a Portuguese delegation will attend the General Assembly in Luxembourg.
Efforts
Due to the COVID-pandemic the contact with the Efforts network has stagnated. These contacts need to be revived.
Wellington Barrier
The same goes for the Wellington Barrier Project.
IFC/CDSG Fortification Calendar
The assembly expressed its appreciation of the “IFC/CDSG Forttours Calendar”, and the Assembly thanked Terry McGovern for his work. The calendar is frequently renewed by Mr McGovern and is put on the website by the secretariat. Mr McGovern requests all IFC-members to send him information on activities/excursions, etc.
Due to the COVID-pandemic not many excursions and activities have taken place. Now that activities are starting again, it is important to keep Terry McGovern informed.
Jeroen van der Werf,
Secretary-General IFC
Utrecht, October 1st, 2021.
Utrecht, October 10th, 2022.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
On the period October 1st, 2021 to October 1st, 2022
General Assembly
On October 15th, 2021 the IFC held its 30th General Assembly in Luxembourg (Luxembourg). Most member organisations were present or were represented. The Frënn vun der Festungsgeschicht Lëtzebuerg (FFGL) hosted the conference.
The General Assembly was held in the morning. Due to the COVID-restrictions, our British colleagues joined digitally.
During the meeting Jeroen van der Werf was appointed as Secretary-General.
Friday afternoon and Saturday were spent visiting various parts of the fortifications of Luxembourg (Front de la Pleine and Front de Trêves) and the Luxembourg city museum where dr. Philippart held a short conference. On Sunday morning we visited the Musée de la Forteresse M3E Fort, to conclude the meeting.
Executive Board
The Executive Board of the IFC consists of:
Mr Andreas Kupka, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Festungsforschung, President IFC
Mr Marc Gayda, Association Vauban, Vice-President IFC
Mr Jeroen van der Werf, Secretary-General IFC
Mr Evert Westerhuis, Treasurer IFC
Mr David Bassett, Fortress Study Group
The Executive Board hasn’t convened in 2022.
There has been a general on-line meeting on 18 March 2022. It was attended by many of the IFC-members and proved constructive.
New IFC members
The Rete della Fortificatzioni (Italy) joined the IFC and attended the General Assembly in Luxembourg.
Via the Association Vauban (AV) contacts were made in Portugal, Poland and Greece. The AV keeps in touch with them.
Mrs. Evelyne Elise Paquette of the Citadell de Quebec showed interest in joining the IFC. We have asked her if she would be interested to join as an observer to get acquainted with the organisation. We haven’t received a reaction, despite several reminders.
Efforts
Due to the COVID-pandemic the contact with the Efforts network has stagnated. These contacts need to be revived.
Wellington Barrier
During the period 2021-2022 no news was received concerning the Wellington Barrier project.
IFC/CDSG Fortification Calendar
The assembly expressed its appreciation of the “IFC/CDSG Forttours Calendar”, and the Assembly thanked Terry McGovern for his work. The calendar is frequently renewed by Mr McGovern and is put on the website by the secretariat. Mr McGovern requests all IFC-members to send him information on activities/excursions, etc.
Cooperation with the GyeongGi Institute of Cultural Properties from Seoul, South Korea
After we failed to find a cooperation in writing articles on European fortifications, contact was renewed in the first half of 2022. This resulted in a visit by the GGICP to Naarden on 6 and 7 July 2022, where a MOU was signed between them and the IFC.
Andreas Kupka and Jeroen van der Werf have visited Seoul on 26 September to 1 October to speak at the GGICP symposium on fortified heritage. They also contributed two articles that were published in a book distributed at the conference.
This will hopefully lead to further cooperation in the future.
Jeroen van der Werf,
Secretary-General IFC
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
On the period October 1st, 2019 to October 1st, 2021
General Assembly
On October 11th, 2019 the IFC held its 29th General Assembly in Graz (Austria). Most member organisations were present or were represented. The Österreichische Gesellschaft für Festungsforschung (ÖGF) hosted the conference.
On Friday we visited the city of Graz. The Landeszeughaus and the Plans Reliefs of the city deserve a special mention. Saturday the 12th was filled with visits to various fortified towns around Graz. This gave an interesting insight in the rich and diverse military heritage of Austria.
Due to the COVID-pandemic there was no General Assembly in 2020. It was postponed until 2021.
Executive Board
The Executive Board of the IFC consists of:
Mr Andreas Kupka, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Festungsforschung, President IFC
Mr Marc Gayda, Association Vauban, Vice-President IFC
Mr Kees Neisingh, Secretary-General IFC
Mr Jeroen van der Werf
Mr Evert Westerhuis, Treasurer IFC
Mr David Bassett, Fortress Study Group
The Executive Board convened in London in Febuary 2020 and on-line in Febuary 2021.
At the General Assembly in Luxembourg Jeroen van der Werf will officially take over the function of Secretary-General from Kees Neisingh.
New IFC members
The Rete della Fortificatzioni (Italy) is now a member of the IFC. They will attend the General Assembly in Luxembourg.
Via the Association Vauban (AV) contacts were made in Portugal, Poland and Greece. The AV keeps in touch with them. At this moment there is a chance that a Portuguese delegation will attend the General Assembly in Luxembourg.
Efforts
Due to the COVID-pandemic the contact with the Efforts network has stagnated. These contacts need to be revived.
Wellington Barrier
The same goes for the Wellington Barrier Project.
IFC/CDSG Fortification Calendar
The assembly expressed its appreciation of the “IFC/CDSG Forttours Calendar”, and the Assembly thanked Terry McGovern for his work. The calendar is frequently renewed by Mr McGovern and is put on the website by the secretariat. Mr McGovern requests all IFC-members to send him information on activities/excursions, etc.
Due to the COVID-pandemic not many excursions and activities have taken place. Now that activities are starting again, it is important to keep Terry McGovern informed.
Jeroen van der Werf,
Secretary-General IFC
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