March 21, 2013 - A Star on Land

CaliforniaMama · 03-21-2013, 07:29 PM

Bourtange, Netherlands

Bourtange is a star fort and village in the Westerwolde region of the Dutch province of Groningen. It is a part of the municipality of Vlagtwedde, and lies about 32 km northeast of Emmen.

The fortifications were 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. This road followed a sandy ridge (tange) through the marshes.

Courtesy of Mother Trip

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.

Courtesy of Just Urbanism where you can also see images of other old European forts.

More Land Stars can be seen at Decoded Stuff & Mother Trip

footfootfoot · 03-21-2013, 08:08 PM

Dutch show-offs.

xoxoxoBruce · 03-21-2013, 08:55 PM

It's a trap!

Griff · 03-22-2013, 05:18 AM

That is so cool!

Sundae · 03-22-2013, 06:37 AM

Star Castle (now an hotel) on the Isles of Scilly.
The Dutch do it bigger and better, but it's still somewhere I intend to stay when my ship comes in. Except I'll be taking the 12 seater plane like I did last time - better than a rollercoaster for scares & thrills.

glatt · 03-22-2013, 07:17 AM

pretty cool
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mrputter · 03-24-2013, 10:32 PM

Me, I'm mostly amused by the "Modern Man's Pad" just to the SW of the fort. I imagine the street lined with... what? Very large flatscreen TVs?

xoxoxoBruce · 03-24-2013, 10:40 PM

Heh heh heh.

ZenGum · 04-02-2013, 06:30 PM

I'm not sure if he invented them, but Da Vinci designed very sophisticated star forts. The payoff is that you can position cannon in the angles where the walls meet, and sweep the face of the walls with fire, with very little exposure. Anyone trying to storm the cannon must get past the musket fire from the walls.

03-21-2013, 07:29 PM	#1
CaliforniaMama I wonder . . . Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Left Coast, a pretty good place to be. Posts: 1,278	March 21, 2013 - A Star on Land Bourtange, Netherlands Bourtange is a star fort and village in the Westerwolde region of the Dutch province of Groningen. It is a part of the municipality of Vlagtwedde, and lies about 32 km northeast of Emmen. The fortifications were 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. This road followed a sandy ridge (tange) through the marshes. Courtesy of Mother Trip 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. Courtesy of Just Urbanism where you can also see images of other old European forts. More Land Stars can be seen at Decoded Stuff & Mother Trip

03-21-2013, 08:08 PM	#2
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	Dutch show-offs. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

03-21-2013, 08:55 PM	#3
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	It's a trap! __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-22-2013, 05:18 AM	#4
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	That is so cool! __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

03-22-2013, 06:37 AM	#5
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Star Castle (now an hotel) on the Isles of Scilly. The Dutch do it bigger and better, but it's still somewhere I intend to stay when my ship comes in. Except I'll be taking the 12 seater plane like I did last time - better than a rollercoaster for scares & thrills. Attached Images __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

03-22-2013, 07:17 AM	#6
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	pretty cool

03-24-2013, 10:32 PM	#7
mrputter Superior Inhabitant Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 71	Me, I'm mostly amused by the "Modern Man's Pad" just to the SW of the fort. I imagine the street lined with... what? Very large flatscreen TVs?

03-24-2013, 10:40 PM	#8
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Heh heh heh. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

04-02-2013, 06:30 PM	#9
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	I'm not sure if he invented them, but Da Vinci designed very sophisticated star forts. The payoff is that you can position cannon in the angles where the walls meet, and sweep the face of the walls with fire, with very little exposure. Anyone trying to storm the cannon must get past the musket fire from the walls. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

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