Star fort Bourtange -Netherlands


Bourtange


Approximately 25 km away from my hometown you find the star fort of Bourtange. The fort was built in 1568 by William I of Orange because he wants to control the only road between Germany and the city of Groningen. Later in 1594 the fort became part of the fortifications on the border between the northern provinces of the Netherlands and Germany. It was never captured by enemies.


Bourtange fortification


Between the years 1593 and 1851 the star fort was a very important one before it was given up in 1851 and Bourtange became a normal village. In the 1960s the municipal of Vlagtwedde decided to renovate the fort which took place between 1967 and 1992. Today it's a lovely open-air museum and visitors feel like going back in old times.


Church at Bourtange

Many activities take place there during the year like presentations of canon shootings; guided tours across the fort, a middle age festival and a nice and cosy christmas market at 2 weekends in december.


Centre of the village

It's a great place to stroll around the whole year.