Fort Bourtange is a star fort in the village of Bourtange, Groningen, Netherlands. It was built in 1593 under the
orders of William the Silent.. Its original purpose was to control the only
road between Germany and the city of Groningen, which was controlled by the
Spaniards during the time of Eighty Years War.
After experiencing its final battle in 1672 the Fort
continued to serve in the defensive network on the German border until it was
finally given up in 1851 and converted into a village. Fort Bourtange currently
serves as a historical museum.
During the Eighty Years War (1568 – 1648), the
Spaniards had control over Groningen and
the road leading from there to Germany. William the leader of the Netherlands
saw it necessary to break off communications between Groningen and Germany. He decided
that it would be optimal to build a fortification on the Bourtange passage,
which was the main road leading to Germany. The fort was completed in 1593 in
the design of a star fort with a network of canals and lakes, which are used as
moats. At the time of its completion the fort housed five garrisons. Soon after
its construction, Spanish forces from Groningen besieged it through the attack
ended in failure.
Fort Bourtange faced another battle in 1672 against
invading forces of the prince – Bishop of Munster, France’s German ally in the Franco
– Dutch war. After capturing 18 cities and towns in the northern Netherlands,
they demand and the Munster replied with a frontal assault. Thanks to the
surrounding marshes and the time – tested for defenses, the invading army was
repelled successfully.
After its eventual secession and conversation into a
village in 1851, living conditions began to deteriorate. Over the 100 years
later in 1960 the local government decided
that to combat this growing
problem the old Fort would be restored to its 1740 – 1750 appearance and made into
a historical museum. This provided valuable tourism for the surrounding
village. The Fort remains a museum today.