Ijzendijke

Ijzendijke offers several distinct ways to explore cultural history: Museum Het Bolwerk, recognizable remains of the fortifications of Vesting IJzendijke, the Mauritspad and the history of the H. Maria Hemelvaart Kerk. If you would like to plan your stay around these themes, it helps to distinguish between the collection’s focus, fortress features in the landscape and architectural history. This lets you choose whether to focus on a historical theme at the museum, traces of the fortress or the development of a church building. You can give one theme priority rather than treating every aspect equally.

Fortress history at the museum and in town

Museum Het Bolwerk’s collection focuses on the State-Spanish Lines. The museum also organizes activities for all ages throughout the year. These offer two different points of interest: a clearly defined historical theme in the collection and a year-round program of activities. Another aspect of fortress history concerns the fortress of IJzendijke itself. It was expanded and reinforced based on a design by Simon Stevin.

A statue of Prince Maurits has stood in the market square of IJzendijke since 2004. The square was once the parade ground for his troops. The statue and the square’s former military use thus come together in the same place. This shared reference point brings the history of the market square to life: the monument and the former parade ground belong to different periods, but to the same location.

The Mauritspad through the landscape

The Mauritspad draws attention to fortress features in the landscape. The 4.5-kilometer route follows sections of the fortress of IJzendijke. Along the way, it passes a section of the rampart with a rebuilt grain mill and a re-excavated section of the moat with a ravelin. The route is therefore described by more than its length: the rampart, mill, moat and ravelin give you specific points of reference for its character. For planning your trip, the distance and the features answer different questions: the kilometer figure tells you how long the route is, while the structures indicate what you can focus on along the way. Check the route on site before setting off.

The church and its architectural history

The H. Maria Hemelvaart Kerk offers a different historical perspective. Its predecessor church was destroyed in 1944; the new church, designed by architect J. de Lint, came into use in 1951. The two dates mark different stages in the building’s history: the destruction of the predecessor and the opening of the new building for use. Here, the focus is on the succession of two church buildings, while the fortress’s history can be traced through its structural development and recognizable remains. When planning a visit, the Mauritspad differs from the historical sights at the market square and church: a route length is given for the path, while the focus at the other sites is on the market square’s history and the church’s architectural history.

Discover more destinations: Groede, Aardenburg, Zuidzande, Eede, Oostburg, Waterlandkerkje, Breskens, Retranchement

For the overview of the wider area: Sluis.