Mauritsfort

Mauritsfort 1588

On the southern bank of the Braakman, the Spanish rampart Sint-Philip or Philippine had been located since 1583. From here, the Spaniards could easily launch attacks on the State (island) of Axel located across the water. To prevent this and also to control shipping on the Braakman, the States constructed Mauritsfort on the opposite bank of Philippine in 1588. The fort was named after Prince Maurits, who was 21 years old at the time, stadtholder of Holland and Zeeland, and thus commander of the armies of both regions.

It became a square fort with earthen walls and a bastion at each corner. Surrounding it was a moat with a counterscarp.

In 1596, the Spanish field marshal Albrecht of Austria began an offensive in the Netherlands. That same year, Hulst fell into his hands, the city captured by Prince Maurits five years earlier. In response, the prince ordered the fortification of Axel, Terneuzen, and Mauritsfort.

Storms and ice flows regularly damaged Mauritsfort, which was directly located at the Braakman. After Philippine was captured by the States in 1633, the importance of Mauritsfort declined. Maintenance was neglected, and decay set in.

Over time, a neighborhood of the same name developed on the outer rampart, with a small tidal harbor from which a ferry to Philippine was maintained. With the diking of the Van Wijckhuisepolder in 1911, both the harbor and ferry were discontinued.

During the widening of the road from Hoek to Philippine in the 1970s, the remnants of the rampart of the fort were completely cleared. Only a large part of the outer rampart is still recognizable.

Bomoto