Emmerschans, Nature reserve and historic fortification in Emmen, Netherlands.
Emmerschans is a rectangular redoubt with defensive moats located near Emmen, protected as both a monument and nature area. The site sits beside the Emmerdijk and combines military earthworks with open green space.
This fortification was built around 1800 to replace an earlier 16th-century defense work that guarded the eastern border. The succession of structures at this location shows how the area served military needs over centuries.
The name comes from an old Dutch family with historical ties to this land. Today the earthworks and moat remain visible features that locals and visitors walk around regularly.
The site is accessible from Rondweg 98 in Emmen with pathways around the earthworks open year-round. The open terrain and stable ground make it suitable for walking at any time of year.
During 1961 restoration work, laborers uncovered ground marks of the original 16th-century fortification buried beneath the current structure. This finding revealed that both defense lines were built on the same spot and their traces survived underground.
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