Engelse Werk, Public park and national heritage site in Zwolle, Netherlands.
Engelse Werk is a park and national heritage site along the IJssel River in Zwolle, spanning 16 hectares with walking paths throughout. The space holds wooded islands, a large central pond, and visible remains of fortifications including bastions and a masonry tunnel.
The site was laid out as a park in 1828, repurposing an older fortification system that originated from a sixteenth-century defense line. These military structures were absorbed into the new park design and remain visible as physical features in the landscape today.
The landscape blends English garden design with visible remnants of old fortifications that dot the terrain. Visitors notice how defensive structures from centuries past sit peacefully among trees and walking routes.
The park is free to enter and features both paved and unpaved walking paths through wooded areas and around water. An on-site restaurant offers refreshments and food with water views, and parking is available nearby.
A section called Vogeleiland functions as a bird sanctuary where kingfishers nest and water birds can be observed. The reed beds and wetland habitats there make this part especially valuable for local wildlife.
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