Fort Bourtange is a star-shaped fort located in the village of Bourtange, Netherlands. It was built in 1593 under the orders of William the Silent to control a key road during the Eighty Years' War between the Netherlands and Spain. The fort features low, thick defensive walls and gently sloping earthen banks called glacis designed to protect it from cannon fire. By the 18th century, the fort had evolved into a small village before being restored in 1960 to its 1740-1750 appearance as an historical museum. Today, around 430 people live in and around the restored Fort Bourtange, catering to visitors with hotels, cafes and activities.

1. STUDENTS
ANCA IONELA MIHAELA
ENACHE SABIN
CLASS 8201
COORDONATING
TEACHER
ASIST. UNIV. MIHAI
DANIEL FRUMUŞELU
University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine
Bucharest
Faculty of Management, Economic Engineering
in Agriculture and Rural Development

2. In the 15th century, during the
age of gunpowder when the
cannon came to dominate the
battlefield, a new style of
fortification evolved in
Europe. Roughly resembling
the shape of a star, these
fortifications had many
triangular bastions,
specifically designed to cover
each other, and a wide ditch.

3. In order to counteract the
cannon balls, defensive
walls were made lower and
thicker and were protected
by gently sloping banks of
earth called glacis in front of
ditches so that the walls
were almost totally hidden
from horizontal artillery
fire. The new fortification
became so popular that the
design was swiftly adopted
by other nations as far as
India and Japan.

4. Fort Bourtange is a star fort in
the village of Bourtange, Groning
en, 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
the Eighty Years' War.

5. Eventually, in 1851 the fort town of Bourtange
was converted into a village. Over 100 years
later in 1960, the local government decided to
restore the old Fort to its 1740-1750 appearance
and made into a historical museum.

6. If the fort was being attacked and the invaders pressed to close to the
drawbridge, it would have been easy enough for the defenders to move
from the ravines to burn the bridge or blow it away with a well-aimed
cannon shot or two. After the siege, it wouldn’t take much effort and
materials to make a replacement.
After crossing the access
bridge, which takes you
into Fort Bourtange, you
will reach the defensive
ravines. The drawbridges
were created to hinder
invaders from getting
into the fort, as were the
moats. The drawbridges
at fort were separate from
the gates.

7. The small community that lives in and around Fort Bourtange
today is about 430 people in total, they cater to the visitors’
needs with friendly hotels, pleasant cafés and an abundance of
related activities in summer. All of your needs are met inside
the fort. You can park at the entrance and walk everywhere. It’s
small and charming. There are large carriages that are available
to carry you through the fort or you could ride the tourist bus.

8.  http://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/06/sta
r-shaped-fort-bourtange-in.html
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bourtang
e
 http://whenonearth.net/the-geometric-
beauty-of-fort-bourtange-in-the-netherlands/