Bourtange
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Bourtange is a Dutch fortified village in a region called Westerwolde.
The fortifications were initially built during the Eighty Years' War when William of Orange wanted to control the only road between Germany and the city of Groningen which was controlled by the Spaniards. This road follows a sandy ridge (tange) through the marshes.
Later, around 1594, Bourtange became part of the border-fortifications between the northern provinces (Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe) and Germany.
In 1851 the fort was given up and Bourtange became a normal village in Westerwolde.
Around 1960 living conditions in the village deteriorated and it was decided that Bourtange would be rebuilt to its state of 1742. Today it is a museum-village.
External links
- Official site of Bourtange (http://www.bourtange.nl/)
- First site of Bourtange, outdated but has some other information (http://www.homepages.hetnet.nl/~armeagle/)