Museum Het Bolwerk

Museum Het Bolwerk in IJzendijke is a regional museum dedicated to the military and social history of Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, with a special focus on the Dutch-Spanish Lines – fortifications built during the Eighty Years' War between the Dutch Republic and Spain. Housed in a former town hall on the Markt square, the museum offers a chronological journey from Roman times to the Second World War, emphasizing the region's strategic importance as a border area.

Visitors begin with an introductory film that provides insight into the complex network of forts, redoubts, and inundation zones that once defined the landscape. The museum's exhibitions include scale models, historical maps, archival documents, and thematic presentations about figures such as Prince Maurits van Nassau, Simon Stevin, and Spanish commanders like Alexander Farnese and Ambrogio Spinola. The museum also explores how many of these military structures have since become nature reserves, home to rare flora and fauna. Temporary exhibitions and educational programs further enrich the experience, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in fortified landscapes, regional identity, and the long-term impact of military infrastructure on cultural memory.

For current visiting hours, please visit the website of the museum.

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Source

• Text: TracesofWar
• Photos: TracesofWar