This museum has developed a multimedia presentation on the history of the Vlissingen (Flushing) fortification thus contributing to a better understanding of the site.

The Casemates: a monument in a monument

Emperors stronghold

The Emperors stronghold in Vlissingen owes its name to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. In the mid-16th century there was a threat of war between Spain and France/England. To protect the ‘Westerschelde’ better against any attacks Maria van Bourgondië (Regent on behalf of Emperor Charles V) ordered to strengthen the port entrance of Vllissingen. The Emperors stronghold was built in 1548 by the Italian architect Donato di Boni Pellezuoli. A year earlier he had built Fort Rammekens.

Casemates

Napoleon ordered to strengthen the Emperors stronghold after the English invasion of 1809 after which the city was heavily damaged. In that time it got its present form. The metric system was used for the first time to build the casemates . In France it had been used since 1796. Netherlands ran the metric system officially only in 1820. In one of those Casemates a garrison bakery was established. The huge ovens could contain 300 loaves of bread. It took 24 hours to bake bread to serve the 4800 soldiers of the garrison.

The other Casemates were used as shelter, storage and waiting room for local officers and men. After the French time, the complex (including bakery) came in the hands of the Dutch Garrison stationed in Vlissingen.

The Casemates were not open to the public. Thanks to the Interregproject 'Walls and Gardens', the public can view and learn about a monument in a monument at this special site.Thanks to the project we can share knowledge, work together in an international environment and we can make the Casemates accessible to a wider audience so that it is preserved for the future.

Have a look to the pictures of the opening !

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