The Ronduut

This strange island in the woods has a real moat as protection during wet periods. There are old photos of children who came here to splash around. The neighborhood knows this place as De Ronduut, but its meaning has faded between the folds of ticking time. According to some, Ronduut came from the 'round hut' of witch master Jan Bams. He is said to have carried out dark practices here in the middle of the last century. Local historical research provided a more realistic explanation. Meerhout's Patrimony discovered that the State army had a camp several kilometers away. The professional army of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands operated in Meerhout during the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648) and the turbulent war years of the early 18th century. In the Netherlands, these troops built watch and signal towers called Ronduit, a corruption of the French Redoute (military field fortification). Most likely, a tower of this kind stood at this location. A watchtower in a forest seems ridiculous, but centuries ago this was an expansive heath from which watchmen had a clear view. The argument gains strength when viewing digital elevation maps. It shows this place as a neat hexagon, indicating a military structure.

Willytou(r)