Heusden, The Netherlands

The beautifully restored fortified town of Heusden, enclosed by ramparts and a moat, is located in the Land of Heusden and Altena in the basin of Maas and Waal.

Heusden has a rich history. As early as the year 722, Hunsata super fluvium Mosam, i.e. Heusden above the river on the Meuse. At the end of the 13th century, Heusden was granted city rights.

In the 12th century, the lord of the Lordship of Heusden made a start on the construction of what would later turn out to be one of the oldest moated castles in NW Europe. This castle was located in an extremely strategic location: enclosed by watercourses to the north and south. After 1200, a settlement arose near the castle on the ridge south of the Meuse. To the south of this settlement flowed the Old or Roman Meuse.

Today's Heusden is a beautifully restored fortified town on the Bergsche Maas, of which the complete buildings including defensive works such as bastions, ravelins, moat and some city gates are now completely intact again.
The restoration is still ongoing and is based on the map by Joan Willemszoon Blaeu from 1649.

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