Museum of the State-Spanish Lines (NL)

From Maurice to Napoleon

West Zeeuws-Vlaanderen with its beautiful, attractive landscape is a quiet region. It seems like it's always been that way. Appearances can be deceiving, because in the course of time many wars have been fought and many battles have been fought. For centuries, the region was a bone of contention between great powers in the north and the south. West-Zeeuws-Vlaanderen has a violent past.

Turbulent past
To protect themselves against this military aggression, many defensive structures were erected from Roman times to the 20th century. The most important fortifications, redoubts and forts date from the 17th and 18th centuries. Their goal was to defend the border. They are in conjunction with each other - in lines laid out by State (Dutch) and Spanish troops. That is why they are known as the State-Spanish lines. DÚ place to learn more about the turbulent past and rich military heritage is museum Het Bolwerk in IJzendijke. There you will relive the battle that has plagued the region for so long.

Landscape in defense
The defences of the State-Spanish lines are not something of the distant past. They can still be seen in today's landscape. More than 200 defences have been erected on both sides of the border in East, West and Zeeland Flanders. There is probably no other region in Europe with such a high density of fortifications. A large number have since been demolished and demolished, but dozens are still visible. They also determine the character of the landscape of the region. The fortifications were in use between about 1600 and 1800.

The Bulwark
The Bolwerk, museum for the State-Spanish Lines takes you back to the time from Maurice to Napoleon by means of many models, photographs, drawings, maps and objects. The museum shows the soldier's life of the time. What weapons were used to fight and what was going on during the siege of a city. A veteran recounts his eventful life. Why were forts built and how did they actually work? What influence did the border have on the construction of fortifications and what is a border anyway?

In the museum you can see a 17th-century comic strip. A fascinating film shows the development and consequences of the State-Spanish lines. Young people (and older people) can build a fortress with Lego. In the garden you will experience the danger that a regiment of pikemen radiated. In the museum you can dress up like a proud 17th-century man. And with a wall painting with a set table, you can be immortalized in the photo as a contemporary of Maurits, Rembrandt and De Ruijter. Museum Het Bolwerk is more than worth a visit!

Discover and experience IJzendijke in a unique way with the Storyteller!
While walking, you can taste the history of IJzendijke on the basis of sound and video fragments. The GPS-guided guide will lead you along all the special historical places. Ask the attendants of Het Bolwerk about the possibilities.

Address
Het Bolwerk, museum for the State-Spanish Lines
4515 BB IJzendijke, Netherlands
tel. +31 (117) 301 200

Practical information
Open
1 April to 1 November 2008
Tuesday to Sunday
13.00-17.00 hrs
Outside opening hours groups by appointment.
Rates
Individual:? 2,50
Group, more than 10 paying visitors, ? 2,00 pp.
Children up to 15 years old: free
Museumjaarkaart: free
Guided tour ? 15,- Maximum size of the group 15 pers.
Guided tour: book with guide at least 24 hours in advance
Accessible to less mobile visitors: yes

Ontdek de Zwinregio