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 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.
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)
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).
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.
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