Ravelijn Op den Zoom

The ingenious system of city walls, bastions, ravelins and lunettes that Menno van Coehoorn built in Bergen op Zoom can definitely be considered de kroon of this renowned fortress builder's work. As one of the border towns between the Republic and the Spanish (later Austrian) Netherlands, Bergen op Zoom had to be well defended. Only in 1747 did this ultimately fail and 'the virgin city' fell prey to French troops. Today, the Ravelijn Op den Zoom still reminds us of that time. It lay like a forward post in the outer moat of the fortress. You can take a breathtaking look inside the underground, bombproof casemates or walk across a floating bridge in the 'Pielekeswater' to the original entrance gate. The Ravelijn is entering a new future as an event location, for which a special kiosk has been installed in the rampart.