The walk was not that long (I think approx. The cows and horses make sure that this happens, so the clover does growth luxuriant. These species can grow here because the vegetation needs to be wielded very short. Those four are the little barrel clover, rough clover, knotted clover and subterranean clover. Not to forget four special types of small clover species. The area is also very important for a population of tree frogs, bats and a few little owls. We found out that the dikes are grazed by cows and horses. Although we had some dark grey skies, combined with the green grass the views were still pretty. In a few minutes we were already wandering over the walls and enjoying the views. We started our walk in the middle of the retrenchment, and we followed the signs. This is how the area got this chained look nowadays. Here where the wet and wild lands, and there were some rich people who bought these and built a dyke around them to impolder them. But the grounds around the fortress weren’t the type of ground you need for farming. So this is why they promoted living in between the walls with the citizens of the area. So people needed some shops, a library a community house etc. Just like every other family they needed things to live. The soldiers lived here in between the barracks and formed a small community.Īll those soldiers lived here actually with their family inside the walls. He also extended this in 1621 with two fortresses at both sides, fort Orange and Nassau. Our Dutch prince Maurits made the design for this area and gave it the name “retrenchment Cadsandria”.

Nowadays this complex formed into a normal village.

During this war there only lived soldiers in between these walls. They created this as a line of defense to protect the Zwin area (access to cities like Sluis and Bruges. We fight together against the Spanish king Philip II. Nowdays the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. This was our Dutch war of independence and was a revolt of the seventeen provinces. They made these walls during the Eighty Years' War.

Like I mentioned I’ve never been here, and today I discovered it is a place with some history! Retranchement does sound French and something to eat, but there is no romantic dinner involved.

Wandering willows achievement