It was not the best day to visit a star-shaped fort-village for a walk due to rain. But it was a planned road trip and we came 250 km too far for us to do something else. So, we made the best of it! Because … In 1580, Prince William of Orange (or William the Silent) gave the order to build an entrenchment with five bastions on a sand ridge, in a swamp area, on the border with Germany. This particular sand ridge, or “tange”, ran the only road connecting Germany and the city of Groningen. Thus, the building of this pentagonal shape fortress would block the route, to isolate the city of Groningen safely. It resulted in Fort Bourtange (Dutch: Vesting Bourtange), a fort in the village of Bourtange, Groningen, in the Netherlands, completed in 1593.
The Spanish forces tried to besiege it during the time of the Eighty Years’ War (1568–1648) and failed. The German army of the Prince-Bishopric of Münster carried out attacks in 1672 and failed too. Surrounded by marshes, Fort Bourtange proved to be an impregnable fortress.
Throughout the centuries, it was constantly reinforced to maintain its strategic position. It continued to serve as a defensive fortification on the German border until it was finally given up in 1851 and converted into a village.
As an agricultural village, Fort Bourtange did not thrive. A century later, the local government decided to stop the decline by restoring the old fort. By 1964, it was set to be an open-air historical location. Battlements were repaired, roads were moved, buildings demolished or reconstructed and the village return to its 1742 appearance, when the fortress was at its greatest size; including the ramparts, canals and red drawbridges. This conversion took about three decades! In 1992, Fort Bourtange was fully reconstructed.
Fort Bourtange is now a tourist attraction. Get your tickets from the Information Center and start there. Set aside 2-3 hours to explore the village on foot. Walk the cobblestone streets, browse the old-fashioned shops like the candle-making factory or souvenir shop, stop by the café for a drink or a bite to eat, drop by the church and further admire those quaint houses along the way. With your entry tickets, you can venture inside: Terra Mora (a museum focuses on cultural and historical values of this fort), Museum De Baracqueen (an exposition about archeological findings found during reconstruction of the fortress), The Synagoge (a well preserved place of worship and expositions on Jewish history), The Captain’s Lodge (a decorated room in a house dating from 1661) and The New Gunpowder House (where you can watch the history of Fort Bourtange). There is a wooden corn mill on site which has lost its function when the soldiers left. A torture device of a wooden horse in the market square, whereby a prisoner would sit on it and have weights tied to their feet. Last but not least, fortress lodging are available if you like the idea to sleep in a real traditional bed-box. Although Fort Bourtange opens all year, most shops were not operating during our random Tuesday visit, in April. I reckon, during the summer months, this village will come alive. I read that there will be historical events, including the largest historical battle re-enactment in the Netherlands: the Battle of Bourtange. We spent a good two hours strolling in and out the rain. It was worth it. A charming moat-surrounded village where we literally walk atop a star with an amazing panoramic view!
Smaller than I expected, though.
Watch this the aerial video to understand why I was so intrigued in the first place: https://vimeo.com/130637413
Website: https://www.bourtange.nl Address: W. Lodewijkstraat 33. 9545 PA Bourtange.
Opening Hours: Fortress Bourtange is open all year round. Opening hours varied. https://www.bourtange.nl/bezoekersinformatie/openingstijden
Entrance Fees: €9.50 for all age 12+, €5.50 age 6-12 years old and free for all under 6 years old.
Getting There: By car is the best option with free parking outside the visitor centre. Public transportation takes too long.