Schans De Katshaar, Military fortification in Coevorden, Netherlands
Schans De Katshaar is a sconce with earthen walls and a moat system arranged in a square formation. The structure stands prominently between the municipalities of Coevorden, Schoonebeek, and Dalen and can be reached via Schansweg.
The sconce was built in 1672 during heightened military tensions and first appeared on maps in 1681 as a strategic checkpoint. It was expanded in the late 18th century with the addition of a saw-tooth shaped retrenchment designed to accommodate cannon placements.
The name Katshaar comes from the elevated sandy ridge covered with grasses and shrubs that provided a natural foundation for the fortification. This natural feature made the location strategically valuable for defense.
The site is easily accessible on foot, with Schansweg providing direct access to the location. The open structure allows visitors to walk around the earthen walls and view the layout from all sides.
The fortification remains a rare example of 17th-century earthwork defense techniques rarely seen in original form today. Its preservation makes it possible to study how frontier zones were militarily controlled during that period.
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