Fort Bourtange
Vesting Bourtange
A fully restored 17th-century village built as a five-pointed star fortress, surrounded by a moat, bastions and windmills. It is like a living history museum.
Fort Bourtange was built in 1593 by William of Orange during the Eighty Years' War to control the only road to Groningen. Starting in the 1960s, it was fully restored to its appearance at the height of its prosperity in 1742. The five-pointed star bastions, double moat, drawbridge and windmill are all intact. Inside the fort is a small village that is still inhabited today. You can visit the barracks, officers' houses, a synagogue and several small museums. In summer, gunners in period costume often fire cannons as part of demonstrations. Walking around the village is free, and a museum combination ticket costs about €12. It is about 55 km from Groningen, a 50-minute drive. Public transport requires transfers.
Opening hours
Museum approx. 10:00–17:00 (shorter hours in winter)
Nearby sights
- Ter Apel Monastery
- Fraeylemaborg
- Hortus Haren
- Drents Museum
- Menkemaborg
- Pepergasthuis
- Forum Groningen
- Prinsenhoftuin