Fort Crèvecoeur

Fort Crèvecoeur sits at the junction of the Dieze and Meuse rivers, displaying defensive walls, casemates, and a powder magazine within its fortified grounds. The structure contains several bastions arranged in geometric patterns designed to defend against attackers from multiple directions.

The fort was built in 1587 by the States forces during the Eighty Years' War, when a strategic outpost was needed to control the region. Over the centuries, it changed hands several times between Dutch, French, Spanish, and German military forces.

The name comes from a moment of grief following the loss of a Spanish commander in a nearby battle. Visitors can still see the historical walls today that bear witness to this sorrowful event.

The fort's interior remains closed to the public due to its current use as a military training facility. You can view the exterior walls and surrounding landscape from the public pathways that run nearby.

The fort's location at a river junction allowed military forces to control trade routes and supply lines to the city during historical sieges. This made it a point of major strategic importance whenever 's-Hertogenbosch faced attack.

Location: 's-Hertogenbosch

GPS coordinates: 51.73491,5.26474

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:05