The Elderschans or Eederschans (originally: Heilleschans, later corrupted to the current name) was an isolated fortification west of Aardenburg, which was part of the State-Spanish Lines.
The Elderschans was built in 1604, together with the Olieschans, to defend Aardenburg. She was located on the estuary of the Platvliet. In 1673 the fort was demolished.
In 1728 the redoubt was owned by Hendrik de Beaufort (1686-1740), who was lord of Duivendijke, and by Justina Geertruida van Welderen. They sold it in 1729 to Petrus Adrianus van Affelen, who was mayor of the Vrije van Sluis and founded a country estate here. After his death, this property belonged to his widow, Catharina van Uffelen, who changed the name to Rustenburg.
In 1770 the estate was sold to Daniel Veijs, who was married to Maria Zonnevylle. The name became Elderschans again. After Daniel had also died, his heirs sold the Elderschans in 1800 to four dignitaries from Aardenburg, who each became the owner for a quarter. In 1841 there were even five owners. One of them was Pieter Christiaan Jacobus Hennequin, and in 1885 he managed to acquire full ownership of the Elderschans.
He then had a country house built that was designed by Jan Adriaan Frederiks in an eclectic style. It was built at the point where two avenues, which had already been laid out in the 18th century, intersected. The park was redesigned. After he died, his wife, Wilhelmina Johanna van Oostenwijk Stern, lived there for a while. In 1915 she left for Hilversum and in 1919 she sold the estate.
This has known many owners since then. The country house was damaged by shellfire in 1944, and in 1945 the then municipality of Aardenburg bought it, only to sell it to a private individual in 1986. However, the park remained municipal property.
The inner and outer moat of the fort are still largely present and the course of the ramparts is recognizable. The area is wooded and you can walk there. It is one of the few forests in this area and one of the few estates in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.
Source Wikipedia
Translated by Google •
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