Discover the Hoge Berg

Fort de Schans is now an oasis of calm. In the sixteenth century, the Sea Beggars controlled the merchant fleet on the Texel Roads. Napoleon would later extend and strengthen the fort. The English would not be allowed to use the Roads as an operational base for an invasion on the continent.

Prince against king

In the sixteenth century, the Texel Roads was an important anchorage for the Dutch merchant fleet. This was the start of the Eighty Years’ War and many Dutch cities were still loyal to the king of Spain. In 1574, with the help of the Sea Beggars, Willem of Orange ordered the construction of Fort de Schans on the east coast of Texel. This made it possible for him to protect the ships from the Orangist cities and to apply military pressure to cities still loyal to the king.

Traces of the past

There were once barracks and a house inside the fort. These have now all been demolished. However, the powder room, a sort of bomb-proof storage space for munition, is still intact. There was also a sluice in the moat around the fort which could be used to set the surrounding reclaimed land under water. This made the fort less accessible from the land.

Heyday of the Roads

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the Roads became even more important as an anchorage. All merchant ships took their supplies and crew aboard along the Texel coast. Upon return, their loads were transferred to smaller cargo ships for inland transport. Above all, the warships of the Admiralty also anchored on the Roads. This meant that the fort was not only well maintained but also frequently extended and fortified.

Prison

The barracks at the fort served as a prison during various periods in history. By way of coincidence, captives were mainly English prisoners of war. This happened, for example, during the American Revolutionary War and during the French occupation of the Netherlands.

Napoleon

Commanding officers of the French army understood that the Marsdiep was of great strategic importance for the defence of the French republic and its vassal states. This became clear when, in 1799, the English conducted an invasion at Callantsoog, further south along the coast from Texel. The English-Russian troops easily conquered a large part of North-Holland. They only surrendered after a number of bloody battles and deployment of a significant French military force. The French soon designed many new fortifications, including those on Texel. Napoleon directed Fort de Schans to be fortified. He also had two secondary forts built: the Lunette and the Redoute. In 1811, he came to personally inspect the developments.

Peace returns

Not long after the fall of Napoleon, at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the Netherlands became an independent kingdom. King William I initiated vast economic development, including the construction of the Great North Holland Canal. The opening of this route in 1824 marked the end of the Texel Roads as anchorage. Seagoing cargo ships could now be towed to Amsterdam via the canal. Fort de Schans remained manned for some years, but its military function was dissolved in 1850. After demolishment of the buildings, the fort fell into decline.

A slab of the fort

On the western side of the fort, you can see the geometric construction as designed by Napoleon’s engineers, complete with ramparts and a double fort moat. This pattern is interrupted on the eastern side of the fort. It was originally there but it now looks as if somebody has cut away a large slab of the fort. This is true to some extent. The original eastern fort walls were dug away around 1930 and the sand was used to heighten the dykes. In 1973, the Wadden Sea dyke was raised to Delta height. This heightened dyke came so far inland that the eastern part of the outer fort moat had to be filled in.

Restoration

The fort has been managed by Natuurmonumenten since the 1990’s. Restoration commenced then with the aim of restoring as much as possible of the original state of the fort as it was in 1813. The moats have been deepened and ramparts repaired where necessary. The bridges and entrance gate now also look as they would have done in Napoleon’s Day.

Accessibility

Fort de Schans is open to walkers. An embankment and a pedestrian bridge provide access to the heart of the fort. With a bit of imagination, you’ll find yourself immersed in 450 years of history here. Museum Kaap Skil organises group excursions to the fort.