My Dutch friends surprised me (one of several times on my trip to Europe) by taking me to this…read morestar-shaped, moat-encompassed fortress/museum, operating as a living tribute and reenactment of 16th century Dutch military and rural life.
For the visiting tourist, Bourtange has just about everything you would want, and expect to see in a historic Dutch site: a narrow bridge crossing a canal; a rustic windmill rising stoically above the rooftops; a modest white-washed chapel, thatched roof buildings, including a smithy; a falconer dressed in period attire, with a bird of prey perched majestically on his arm. Touches of the modern are almost as pervasive, including a central marktplein, complete with an expansive gift shop, restaurant and vendor booths.
There's a lot to see here, and it can easily keep you occupied for an entire day. Museums, live re-enactments, shopping, food, and simply taking in the architecture, preserved with practicality, care and precision, as is the Dutch way. This is the sort of living historical record that has the rare ability to engage both young and old alike; your kids might just put down their phones long enough to enjoy it, especially at the sound of a nearby musket blast!
