A Visit to Fort Bourtange, the Netherlands
Fort Bourtange, is a star shaped fort located in the Dutch village of Bourtange. Fort Bourtange was originally ordered to be built by William the Silent in 1593 as a means of defending the main road between the city of Groningen and Germany. During this time, the Spaniards occupied the area during the Eighty Years’ War. Today, anyone can visit Fort Bourtange. Visitors can access one of the museums, eat at a local restaurant, view the shops, or simply walk around and explore Fort Bourtange.
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The village of Bourtange is located in the Groningen Province of the Netherlands. Located near the border of Germany and the Netherlands, Bourtange is about an hours drive from the city of Groningen. Fort Bourtange is a fort located within the village of Bourtange.
History of Fort Bourtange
Fort Bourtange was originally established in 1593 by William the Silent in order to protect the Dutch and control the road leading to Groningen from Germany from the Spaniards during the Eighty Years’ War.
The Eighty Years’ War was a war fought between the Netherlands and Spain for Dutch Independence. This war was fought between 1568 and 1648, hence the 80 Years’ War.
In 1577 the Spaniards captured the city of Groningen. Eventually, because of the location of Fort Bourtange, supplies to Groningen were cut off to the Spaniards and Groningen fell into Dutch hands once more in 1594.
The star shape of the fort was a popular design around the Netherlands at the time. The star shape of the fort provided guards with better views of the surrounding area and also better protected the fort against cannon fire.
Overtime the marshlands around Fort Bourtange dried up due to agriculture. Because of this, the fort was no longer being used for military purposes and was converted into a residential village around the 1850’s. Over time, the village fell into disrepair. In the 1960’s the local government decided to turn the deteriorating village into an open air museum and Fort Bourtange has been a popular tourist attraction ever since.
Visiting Fort Bourtange
Today, anyone can pay a visit Fort Bourtange. There is not a whole lot of information on the internet regarding things to do in Fort Bourtange. Honestly, there wasn’t a whole lot to do but walk around and enjoy the atmosphere and beauty of the village. I say this because we visited Fort Bourtange first thing in the morning when everything was still closed.
Outside of Fort Bourtange, there is a parking lot and visitor center.
The Fort Bourtange Visitor center is open daily from 10 am until 4:30 pm.
For more information on opening hours and tickets, visit the Vesting Bourtange website.
Visitors can view the mill, church, town square, and view the traditional houses.
There are a few museums that can be accessed, tickets for the museums can be purchased at the visitor center. The museums include the Terra Morea, The Baracquen, Captain’s House, Synagogue, and Gunpowder House.
The are also a couple of local shops and restaurants within Fort Bourtange.
There is a narrow trail that goes around walls of the star shaped fort. From here, you get great views of the town, moat, and surrounding forest.
Conclusion
A visit to Fort Bourtange is worth a quick stop. It is like stepping back in time to an era of Dutch history that so many of us are unfamiliar with. Fort Bourtange offers visitors a glimpse into the military and fortification history of the Netherlands. This fort is a must for history enthusiasts but is also a great attraction for anyone interested in Dutch culture, small towns, and beautiful nature.
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