Bourtange

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title: "Bourtange" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["former-municipalities-of-groningen-(province)", "populated-places-in-groningen-(province)", "westerwolde-(municipality)", "marsh-castles"] topic_path: "general/former-municipalities-of-groningen-province" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourtange" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
name	Bourtange
settlement_type	Village
image_skyline	Bourtange vesting 9.JPG
image_alt	Brick houses and trees around an empty market square
image_caption	Market square in the center of Fort Bourtange
pushpin_map	Netherlands Groningen#Netherlands
pushpin_label_position	left
pushpin_map_alt	Maps of the Netherlands and Groningen with the location of Bourtange
pushpin_map_caption	Location in the province of Groningen
coordinates
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	Netherlands
subdivision_type1	Province
subdivision_name1	Groningen
subdivision_type2	Municipality
subdivision_name2	Westerwolde
unit_pref	Metric
area_footnotes	(2012)
area_total_ha	159
area_land_ha	147
area_water_ha	12
population_footnotes
population_total	430
population_as_of	2012
population_density_km2	auto
timezone1	CET
utc_offset1	+1
timezone1_DST	CEST
utc_offset1_DST	+2
postal_code_type	Postal code
postal_code	9545
area_code_type	Area code
area_code	0599
iso_code	NL-GR
image_flag	Vlag Bourtange.svg
flag_size	100
::

Bourtange (; Gronings: Boertang) is a village with a population of 430 in the municipality of Westerwolde in the Netherlands. It is situated in the region Westerwolde in the east of the province of Groningen near the German border. Fort Bourtange was built in 1593 during the Dutch Revolt and was used until 1851. Between 1967 and 1992 the star fort was gradually restored to its mid-18th-century state and it is currently an open-air museum.

Etymology

The name Bourtange comes from the Dutch word tange (sand ridge), because the settlement is situated on a strategically important sand ridge in the marshes of the Bourtange Moor.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Fortbourtange.jpg" caption="Bourtange fortification, restored to its 1750 state"] ::

Fort Bourtange was initially built during the Eighty Years' War (circa 1568–1648) when William I of Orange wanted to control the main road between Germany and the city of Groningen which was controlled by the Spanish. This road followed a sandy ridge (tange) through the marshes (the Bourtange Swamp).

Later, around 1594, Bourtange became part of the fortifications on the border between the northern provinces (Groningen, Friesland, Drenthe) and Germany.

Bourtange was a separate municipality until 1822, when it was merged with Vlagtwedde.

In 1851 the star fort was given up and Bourtange became a normal village.

Around 1960 living conditions in the village deteriorated and it was decided that Bourtange would be rebuilt to its state of 1740-1750. Today it is an open-air museum.

Geography

Bourtange is located in the center of the municipality of Westerwolde and in the east of the province of Groningen near the German border. It is situated on a sand ridge in the Bourtange Moor, in the region of Westerwolde.

Demographics

In 2001, the town of Bourtange had 267 inhabitants. The built-up area of the town was 0.21 km2, and contained 133 residences. In 2005, the statistical area "Bourtange", which also can include the surrounding countryside, had a population of around 530.

As of 2012, Bourtange has a population of 430 and a population density of 270 /km2.

References

{{in lang. nl [http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/ Kerncijfers wijken en buurten], [[Statistics Netherlands]], 2013. Retrieved on 19 January 2014.
{{in lang. nl [https://www.postcode.nl/zoek/Bourtange%2C Resultaten voor "Bourtange,"], Postcode.nl. Retrieved on 19 January 2014.
{{in lang. nl [https://www.telefoonboek.nl/netnummer/ Netnummer zoeken] {{Webarchive. link. (2017-04-30 , Telefoonboek.nl. Retrieved on 19 January 2014.)
"WELCOME TO THE YEAR 1742".
"Vesting Bourtange - Musea".
"Bourtange Fortress {{!}} Northeastern Netherlands, The Netherlands {{!}} Attractions".
{{in lang. nl "[https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/sten009monu04_01/sten009monu04_01_0017.php Bourtange (gemeente Vlagtwedde)]", ''Monumenten in Nederland. Groningen'', 1998/2010. Retrieved on 19 January 2014.
{{in lang. nl {{Repertorium Nederlandse Gemeenten
"Vesting Bourtange".
{{in lang. nl Statistics Netherlands (CBS), [http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/milieu-natuur-ruimte/ruimte/publicaties/cartografie-geografie/geografische-data/2001-bevolkingskernen-in-nederland.htm ''Bevolkingskernen in Nederland 2001''] {{webarchive. link. (March 19, 2006 . (Statistics are for the continuous built-up area).)
{{in lang. nl Statistics Netherlands (CBS), [http://statline.cbs.nl/ ''Statline: Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2003-2005''] {{webarchive. link. (1999-04-27 . As of 1 January 2005.)

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