Fort Bourtange
Vesting Bourtange

Walk on a star at the Fortress Bourtange to discover an authentic 17th century village and multiple museums.

• From afar, this place is in the literal shape of a star. While you’re inside, the shape isn’t so obvious but the streets are still beautiful. The fortress itself isn’t super big - you can walk the whole place in about 20 minutes. Still, it’s worth taking your time since there’s plenty to see here.
• Originally made in 1593, the fort was one of the major defences of the Netherlands. You can still see traces of its history in its museum and reenactments of battles throughout the year. This place isn’t only a tourist attraction - people do still live in this village so it’s not your typical open air museum.
• There are 3 museums in the fort: the synagogue, the captain’s house, and the Baracquen museum (archeological museum in the former soldier’s barracks). You don’t need to go to all the museums, but the captain’s house is worth a look as it’s a fully restored 17th century house.