The Bourtange Fortress – back into the past

Just behind the German/Dutch border in the Groningen province lies the small town Bourtange. And in Bourtange stands a fortress that was reconstructed masterfully.

Origin of the Bourtange fortress

Bourtange Fortress was built around 1580. The area around Groningen was very marshy at the time, with only a few solid roads running through the landscape. William I of Orange had the fortress built in a favorable location on the road between Heede and Groningen. He hoped that this would enable him to cut off the Spanish, who had occupied the city of Groningen, from the outside world.

The fortress was completed in 1593 and proved to be an impregnable bulwark during the Thirty Years’ War. Modernized time and again, it remained undefeated despite numerous attacks. The fortress also proved its resilience in the following decades and was always maintained even in times of crisis. In 1742 in particular, during the First Silesian War, the fortress reached its greatest extent.

Bourtange Fortress was used for military purposes until the middle of the 19th century. Over time, more and more citizens settled within the protective walls and a small fortified town developed. However, the fortress was abandoned for military purposes in 1851.

The village initially flourished, but after the Second World War it slowly began to decline due to the poor infrastructure of the entire region. A large population exodus began around the fortress.

Rescue attempt

In 1960, the village was threatened with complete abandonment. In a final rescue attempt, the municipality of Vlagtwedde decided to reconstruct the fortress to its 1742 state and preserve it as a museum and leisure site.

The most important restoration work was carried out between 1964 and 1973, and the site was continuously expanded and supplemented thereafter.

The fortress is a regular pentagon with bastions at the corners. The dimensions of the complex are very manageable, the distance from bastion to bastion is only 200 meters. In front of the fortress are moats, rampart shields (to protect the rampart between the bastions), a crownwork and a glacis. When reconstructing the ramparts, care was taken to ensure that only earth and wood were used. Only the two gates and a small buttress are made of brick. However, some changes had to be allowed. At that time, the access gates were flatter and narrower. To allow a small fire engine, ambulance and suppliers to pass through the gate, it was widened and raised slightly.

Inside Vesting Bourtange, the central market square was rebuilt, from which the streets lead to the ramparts in a star shape. Old photos and construction drawings helped to build houses that were as true to the original as possible.

Way into the Bourtange fortress

You can easily walk to Bourtange Fortress from the large free visitor parking lot. It takes maybe 5-10 minutes! In the high season, a small minibus leaves directly in front of the information center for a fee.

In addition to the souvenir store, the information center also houses the hotel reception and the opportunity to buy tickets for the small museums on the grounds. A map showing the most important places within the fortress is also available here.
Bourtange Fortress – fortress bridge

The footpath is definitely worth the effort. It leads between the former fortification moats over three beautiful bright red wooden bridges. You have a great view of the fortifications and when the water is calm, there are beautiful reflections in the water of the moat. Crossing the bridge takes you into the fortifications.

Circular route on the ramparts

Bourtange is completely surrounded by water. The ramparts run in a star shape around the village. Like most visitors, we first took a walk along the ramparts. It takes about 30 minutes to walk around the small village.

From the top of the hill, you have a beautiful view of the historic buildings and the green surroundings. The path leads from bastion to bastion and only at the main entrance do you have to leave the path briefly via narrow steps to climb up again on the other side.

There are cannons at one bastion. These originally came from a ship and are still in use today. During the season, a cannon firing demonstration takes place every Sunday at 3 pm. Additional cannon shots are fired on Ascension Day, Easter Monday and Whit Monday.

I found the little houses on small bridges over the water-filled moat particularly funny. When we took a closer look at one of the little houses, we could see that they were toilet blocks. A thunderbolt with an opening above the water today only gives an idea of what kind of slop filled the moat.

There is also a large windmill on the ramparts. This replica from 1980 represents the reconstructed windmill of the bastion. This wooden windmill served as a grain and husking mill. A second mill is located in the bastion. The millstone of the horse mill can still be driven by horse power today.

Bourtange – the museum village

A museum village has been created in the fortifications. Small reconstructed houses house souvenir stores, restaurants and a hotel as well as small museums. Some of the houses are used as normal residences and are of course not open to the public.

There is also a small synagogue in Bourtange. The building, which dates back to 1842, has been restored and now serves as a museum.

There are restaurants and small stores around the market square. Don’t miss the wooden horse on the market square. At first I thought it was just there for decorative purposes. But far from it. It is a reconstruction of an instrument of torture. Convicts were placed on the horse and weights were attached to their feet.

Museums

There are a total of 5 different museums in Bourtange. These can all be visited with a combined ticket (available from the information center at the parking lot).

Museum de Baracquen

The Museum de Baracquen, housed in a historic barracks, offers an insight into the life of soldiers in 1742. Particularly noteworthy is the unique collection of maps depicting the fortress of Bourtange and the surrounding fortified towns.

Synagogue

The synagogue, built in 1842, served as a place of worship for the Jewish community in Bourtange until the Second World War. It is considered to be the only well-preserved synagogue on the German-Dutch border. Today there is an exhibition of objects and photos documenting the Jewish history of Bourtange.

Kapiteinswoning

This former officers’ house dates back to 1661 and forms half of the former convent master’s house. The kitchen is designed as a permanent exhibition space, while the restored part of the house houses a beautiful historic room.

The new Kruithuis

As the name suggests, the “New Kruithuis” was once used to store gunpowder. Nowadays, it is used for temporary exhibitions and is also available as a venue for weddings. It is interesting to note that the roof used to rest loosely on the meter-thick walls to prevent the entire building from being destroyed in the event of an explosion.

Our tips

During your visit, don’t miss one of the restaurants in Bourtange. We ate at t Oal Kroegie. In good weather you can sit directly on the market square, otherwise you can sit in the cozy dining room. There is a good selection from savory to sweet dishes, so everyone should find something to suit their taste. We liked it.

You can also stay overnight in the Vesting Bourtange. We spent one night at Hotel Vesting Bourtange and really enjoyed it.

On the first weekend in May, amateur actors re-enact the “Battle of Bourtange”. The battles of 1640 and 1814 alternate on an annual basis.

A special tip is the Christmas market, for which you should buy tickets in good time.

If you want to go for a walk after visiting Bourtange Fortress, don’t miss out on a visit to the adjacent nature reserve. With a bit of luck, you might spot herds of Konik horses there.

Visitor information

Address

Vesting Bourtange
Willem Lodewijkstr.33
9545 PA Bourtange

The visit took place as part of a research trip.