Finney Finds A Fort - May 3, 2025

So bathrooms are different in Europe. Most have a separate shower area. The toilets are in separate small cubby holes. The tanks are in the walls and a some older places have tanks in the ceiling with a chain. Some toilets have a shelf in them so you can examine your excrement before flushing it away with a torrent of water. Of course there is always a toilet brush to clean up any remaining leftovers. Note the shelf in the toilet picture.
We decided we would venture out towards Germany to the village of Bourtange, Groningen and go to Vesting Bourtange, a unique historical fort that combines defence and small fortified town. 
It was originally built by William the Silent, commonly known as William of Orange, who lead a revolt against the Spanish Habsburgs. The was completed in 1593 to control the only road between Germany and Groningen which was controlled by the Spaniards. It was in use during the Eighty Year's War from 1593-1851. After it's final battle in 1672 the fort was used in defense of the Germany border and in 1851 it was decommissioned and converted to a village. As there was no work the village deteriorated over time and in 1960 it was decided to restore it to the period of 1740-50.

Thanks to high burms and canal moats the fort was tough to attack. The drawbridges have been restored to their original red colour.

Their is a complete village in the centre with church, synagogue and restaurants.
Walking on the ramparts.
The fort is in the shape of a five pointed star and surrounded by water. One of the reasons the fort became defunct was the water started to dry up as the Dutch began to reclaim the polders thus one of its main defences started to disappear.

There was a working  mill inside the fort and it is a type of mill that turns the whole mill into the direction of the wind.
There was also the Rosemollen which was a horse mill. This mill was driven by a horse and the large wheel accelerated to 15 times turning the millstone at 90 revolutions per minute.

Village houses and gardens.





The old warehouse that was used to store 45,000 pounds of gunpowder. The walls were 1 m thick.


Ed in the privy.
Village houses.
Cannon on the ramparts.
The privy over the moat.


Sitting on the cannon.
Kesa playing a virtual game flying a goose with Finney.
More weapons storage now turned into garages.

Cool place.
Lunch and some play time.  See part two for the rest of the day.


 

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