Bourtange, Netherlands

Bourtange Plan - 1740

Bourtange, Netherlands, is a star fort initially built during the Eighty Years’ War (c. 1568-1648) when William I of Orange wanted to control the only road between Germany and the city of Groningen which was controlled by the Spaniards. In the 1960’s the village decided to restore and rebuild Bourtange to replicate its state of 1742 and operate as an open air museum.