The 80-year war between the Northern Netherlands and Spain was the reason for the development of Damme into a fortified city. Damme already had a rampart at that time, but it was no longer adapted to the changed way of warfare. Result: between 1615 and 1620 the Spanish built a new defensive belt in the shape of a 7-star. Damme was important because of its location on the canal network, because it is close to the enemy Sluis and is ideally situated to defend Bruges. The mouth of the canal "de Lieve" (Damme - Ghent) was led inside the city walls and entered the city via a covered water gate. This gate was later used as a weapons depot (casemate) and still exists. Due to the construction of the new city walls, a number of buildings (such as the old city gates; see also Brugse Poort) had to be demolished. The city could now only be entered via 2 new gates. In 1702, the ramparts were expanded with an additional hornwork in the direction of Sluis. A military governor governed the city and Damme would remain a fortified city until 1760. In 1786, the grounds of the ramparts were sold publicly and the decline began.
The double rampart can still be seen clearly, but has suffered greatly from the ravages of time. A large part of the ramparts is now owned by the non-profit organisation Natuurpunt. The aim is to fully revalue the ramparts around Damme. In 2001, part of the outer rampart was restored again, during which the remains of an old construction were found. This could be the Bruges gate. The city ramparts have become a nature reserve where a number of (even very rare) animal species have found an ideal habitat.
In 2008, a second restored section was opened to the public (north side). This restoration was part of the European Intereg project "State-Spanish lines" in which various defenses on both the Dutch and Flemish sides were revalued. This part of the ramparts was completely restored to its original state, but fauna and flora have also been given a prominent place; an example of a beautiful interplay between cultural-historical heritage and nature. This beauty is not denied to the visitor, because a footpath shows you the way.