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Bourtange
Overview
Bourtange (Dutch pronunciation: [ˌbuːrˈtɑŋə]; Gronings: Boertang) is a village with a population of 430 in the municipality of Westerwolde in the Netherlands. It is situated in the region Westerwolde in the east of the province of Groningen near the German border. Fort Bourtange was built in 1593 during the Dutch Revolt and was used until 1851. Between 1967 and 1992 the star fort was gradually restored to its mid-18th-century state and it is currently an open-air museum.
Wikivoyage guide · 15 sections
▸Introduction728 chars
Established during the Eighty Years' War, the fortified town of Bourtange is a charming destination in the Westerwolde region of the Northern Netherlands, right on the border with Germany. Its stunning architecture and beautifully renovated state make it one of the best surviving examples of a star fort in Europe. Although mostly unknown to international visitors from further away, German and Dutch tourists are increasingly discovering this quaint village, where it seems to the eye that little has changed since 1782. The small community that lives in and around the fort -about 430 people in total- caters to the visitors' needs by means of friendly hotels, pleasant cafés and an abundance of related activities in summer.
▸Understand1,059 chars
The star shaped fort was designed and built at the orders of William I of Orange, during the Dutch Revolt against Spain. The fort served a simple goal: to control the main road through the Bourtange swamps to Germany. The city of Groningen and its surroundings were still under Spanish control at the time, and received their supplies from allies in Germany. According to some sources, the assignment to build a fort was given to Diderick van Sonoy, one of the leaders of the Dutch "Geuzen", the Calvinist Dutch nobles who took on the battle with the Spaniards. It was Adriaan Anthoniszoon who drew the designs of what would become a 5 sided bastion. Works began in 1580.
The fort was hardly finished when the city of Groningen was finally taken, and the fort was adapted to now suit a new purpose. It became part of the border defence lines of the three provinces of the Northern Netherlands. It was enforced and expanded several times, during wars that followed, but as the swamps around Bourtange slowly dried, the importance of the fort slowly diminished.
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WBP almanac
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From Wikipedia386 words
WBP editorial3
Walking the Lines
The layout of Bourtange invites a meditative stroll. Its star‑shaped bastions create a series of intersecting avenues that frame sight‑lines toward the surrounding marshland, offering a subtle sense of scale that most guidebooks gloss over. Early mornings bathe the brickwork in a cool, amber glow, while the distant hum of passing cyclists on the nearby railway line reminds you that this fortified village still lives within a modern transport network. Pack a reusable coffee cup and linger at the tiny tea shop tucked in a former guardroom; the owner often shares anecdotes about the 20th‑century agricultural reforms that reshaped the surrounding fields, adding a human layer to the stone walls.
Beyond the Fort: Vernacular Crafts
While the star fort dominates the tourist map, the surrounding Westerwolde countryside nurtures a modest craft tradition that rarely makes the mainstream itinerary. Local weavers still produce tweed‑like fabrics using wool sourced from nearby farms, and the pattern motifs echo the angular geometry of the fort itself. A short detour to a family‑run workshop on the outskirts lets you watch the looms in action and understand how seasonal shearing cycles dictate production. Sampling a freshly baked krentjebraden (a regional spiced pastry) while the weaver explains the role of guilds in preserving these techniques adds a tactile, culinary dimension to your visit.