Oudeschans

Oudeschans (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʌudəˌsxɑns]) is a small village with a population of around 100 in the municipality of Westerwolde in the province of Groningen in the Netherlands. The 16th-century fortification is now a state protected village area with several national heritage sites, among which a 17th-century garrison church, and the Vestingmuseum Oudeschans.

For the canal in Amsterdam, see Oudeschans, Amsterdam.
Oudeschans
Village
Houses at the Voorstraat in Oudeschans
Oudeschans
Location in the province of Groningen in the Netherlands
Coordinates: 53°8′15″N 7°8′25″E
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceGroningen
MunicipalityWesterwolde
Area
 (2012)[1]
 • Total46 ha (114 acres)
 • Land44 ha (109 acres)
 • Water2 ha (5 acres)
Population
 (2017)[1]
 • Total100
 • Density220/km2 (560/sq mi)
Postal code
9696
Area code(s)0597

Etymology

The fortification was initially named Bellingwolderschans, meaning Sconce of Bellingwolde, in 1593. It was renamed Oudeschans, meaning Old Sconce, after the fortification of Nieuweschans, meaning New Sconce, was built in 1628.[2]

History

In 1593, during the Eighty Years' War, the fortification was built by William Louis, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg to strengthen the strategically important Bellingwolderzijl (Sluice of Bellingwolde) connecting the river Westerwoldsche Aa to the Dollart. The fortification was used for military purposes until 1814.

In the 1980s, some of the walls, canals, and bastions were restored.[2] In 1991, the fortification became a state protected village area (Dutch: beschermd dorpsgezicht).[3]

  • Map of the fortification from the Atlas Van Loon (1649)
  • Aerial photograph, 1977
  • Protected village area

Geography

Oudeschans is located at 53°8′15″N 7°8′25″E (53.14, 7.14) in the north of the municipality of Westerwolde, in the east of the province of Groningen, in the northeast of the Netherlands. The village is in the southeast of the region Oldambt, situated between the river Westerwoldse Aa in the west and the canal B.L. Tijdenskanaal in the east.

The nearest village is Bellingwolde to the southeast and the nearest city is Winschoten to the west. Other nearby villages are Beerta in the northwest, Bad Nieuweschans in the northeast, Vriescheloo in the south, and Blijham in the southwest.

Oudeschans is an administrative neighborhood (Dutch: buurt) in the district (Dutch: wijk) of Bellingwolde. The neighborhood has a total area of 46 ha (110 acres), of which 44 ha (110 acres) is land and 2 ha (4.9 acres) is water.[1]

Demographics

In 2012, the village had a population of 95 and a population density of 206.5/km2 (535/sq mi).[1]

Attractions

The 17th-century garrison church, walls, canal, bastions, and several other buildings are state monuments (Dutch: rijksmonumenten).

Vestingmuseum Oudeschans is a local museum about the history of the fortification of Oudeschans with a display of archaeological findings from the 17th and 18th centuries.[4]

  • Bastion
  • Canal and draw bridge
  • Garrison church
  • Vestingmuseum and art gallery
  • Farmhouse

References
  1. (in Dutch) CBS StatLine, Statistics Netherlands, 2017. Retrieved on 2017-12-02.
  2. (in Dutch) De vesting Archived 2016-08-16 at the Wayback Machine, Stichting Vesting Oudeschans. Retrieved on 12 February 2014.
  3. (in Dutch) Overzicht van aangewezen en in procedure zijnde stads- en dorpsgezichten Archived 2014-03-01 at the Wayback Machine, Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, 2013. Retrieved on 12 February 2014.
  4. (in Dutch) Vestingmuseum, Stichting Vesting Oudeschans. Retrieved on 12 February 2014.
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