Vestingmuseum Oudeschans

About the museum

Oudeschans came into being in 1593, when Count William Louis of Nassau, during the Eighty Years' War, had a sconce built on the water line near Bellingwolderzijl with a large fleet and around 2,200 soldiers. From here the water level of the region could be controlled, which gave the fortress strategic importance. After a second sconce was built in 1628, it became the "old sconce"; in 1657–1659 the village acquired its present form through dyke construction and the diversion of the Westerwoldse Aa. In 1814 the complex was abandoned as a fortress, but the course of the streets and remains of the ramparts are still recognisable today.

Since 1982, excavations in the village have brought to light numerous everyday finds and military objects. They form the core of the Vestingmuseum, which opened on 12 September 1987 and is run by the Stichting Vesting Oudeschans on a voluntary basis and without ongoing public funding. The foundation itself was established in 1976 as the successor to an association founded in 1972 and is dedicated to preserving the fortified village as a living residential community.

The museum shows finds from the 17th and 18th centuries, including crockery, glass, dozens of preserved shoes, weapons and cannonballs, supplemented by paintings, engravings and loans. It tells how the inhabitants lived at the time of the Eighty Years' War and how the fortresses on both sides of the border were connected.

Highlights

• Archaeological finds from the fortified village (crockery, glass, shoes)
• Weapons and cannonballs from the 17th and 18th centuries
• Everyday life in the Eighty Years' War
• Tours of the village and along the ramparts (by registration)
• Admission includes tea or coffee

Permanent exhibition

• Archäologische Funde der Festung Oudeschans – Crockery, glass, shoes, weapons and cannonballs from excavations show everyday life in the fortress at the time of the Eighty Years' War.

Founded

1987

Operated by

Stichting Vesting Oudeschans

Admission & discounts

Admission includes a cup of tea or coffee. The museum receives no public subsidies; the Museumkaart is not valid.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Educational projects for primary school classes combine local history with creative tasks; children under 15 have free admission.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located on Molenweg in the fortified village of Oudeschans near the German border.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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