The disaster year 1672
In the disastrous year of 1672, France, Cologne and Münster invaded our Republic and English warships lay off our coast. To stop the enemy, water was run on land making it impassable. For example, the polder between the two Wierickes was under water.
Fortresses were built in places where one could pass this Dutch Waterline via a dike or river.
Prince Willem III had Fort Nieuwerbrug refurbished at the Double Wiericke, with the Molkerschans across the Rhine. His headquarters will be behind the Single Wiericke, where Fort Wierickerschans is now located.
This worked until it started to freeze. The French went from Woerden, across the ice, around Nieuwerbrug, to Zwammerdam. Because they were stopped there and the ice started to melt, they retreated to Woerden. Zwammerdam, Bodegraven and Nieuwerbrug were completely destroyed and massacred along the way.
Colonel Pain et Vin managed to evacuate the post at Nieuwerbrug in time for this French force majeure. The enemy could easily return to Woerden.
Fort Wierickerschans was built in 1673 by order of Stadholder Willem III. It is part of the Old Dutch Waterline and, for strategic reasons, is located at the junction of the Oude Rijn and the Single Wiericke.
Address: South side 132, 2411 RX Bodegraven. For your navigation: Weijpoort, 4 in Nieuwerbrug
Opening hours:
closed on Sundays
Monday 08: 30–17: 00
Tuesday 08: 30–17: 00
Wednesday 08: 30–17: 00
Thursday 08: 30–17: 00
Friday 08: 30–17: 00
Saturday Closed