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Fort Berchem

Fort Berchem

Highlight • Historical Site

Fort Berchem

Recommended by 103 cyclists out of 118

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Location: Sluis, Zeeland, Netherlands

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Top cycling routes to Fort Berchem

4.6

(205)

1,702

riders

1. Old Harbour of Sluis – Belfry of Sluis loop from Cadzand

16.4km

00:59

20m

Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.6

(246)

1,486

riders

2. The Zwin Nature Reserve – The Zwin Nature Reserve loop from Het Zoute

37.5km

02:15

50m

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.7

(308)

1,510

riders

3. The Zwin Nature Reserve – Cycle path through the dunes loop from Groede

49.2km

02:49

70m

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

Hoekschop

August 1, 2018

Around 1643, on the site of an old guardhouse surrounded by ditches and earthworks, the Redoute Berchem was built: a square fort with earthen ramparts, surrounded by a moat and supplemented by a guardhouse and accommodation for soldiers and auxiliaries. In 1666, due to its remote location during a plague epidemic, the fort served to house sick soldiers from the garrison of the larger fortress of Retranchement. Towards the end of the 17th century Fort Berchem was abolished and demolished

Translated by Google •

Gregor geht

September 17, 2018

Again and again interesting, where the coast ran here many years ago. Diligent, our neighbors from the Netherlands.

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🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

September 4, 2024

Fort Berchem. This defensive structure was rebuilt from the Zeeland clay as a clever reconstruction based on archaeological research.
Predecessor Fort Terhofstede
The fort dates from the last years of the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648) and had a number of predecessors. When Sluis was captured in 1587, the brilliant Spanish general Alexander Farnese closed off the Zwin to the north of the city with a pontoon bridge, which was protected on both sides by forts. Such a pontoon bridge had also served him well during the capture of Antwerp in 1585. Fort Terhofstede, which had already been founded on the right bank in 1584 and was Berchem's 'first phase', was almost completely washed away during a storm surge in 1597.
From guardhouse to plague hospital
In 1604, Prince Maurits van Oranje brought Sluis and the surrounding area into the hands of the States; a fairly simple guardhouse was built approximately on the site of the washed-away fort. The third and final phase is that of the actual Fort Berchem: a modest square redoubt with earthen ramparts, surrounded by a moat and equipped with a guardhouse and lodgings. It was built around 1643, about five years before the Peace of Munster. In 1666, during a last major plague epidemic in the Netherlands and elsewhere, the fort was set up as accommodation for sick soldiers from the garrison in Retranchement. Fort Berchem was demolished again around 1674.

Source zeeuwseankers.nl/verhaal/fort-berchem-bij-retranchement

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Informations

Elevation 10 m

Weather

Monday 29 December

6°C

3°C

0 %

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Max wind speed: 21.0 km/h

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See rides here

Take Me There

Location: Sluis, Zeeland, Netherlands

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Fort Berchem

1. Old Harbour of Sluis – Belfry of Sluis loop from Cadzand

2. The Zwin Nature Reserve – The Zwin Nature Reserve loop from Het Zoute

3. The Zwin Nature Reserve – Cycle path through the dunes loop from Groede

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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