Story of the city walls

Walk on the city walls
Anyone who knows Elburg thinks of the old town, the harbour, fish, boats or fun shopping and a terrace. Not everyone knows that Elburg is a fortified city and that a fortified city requires fortifications. These strongholds and the canal form a green strip around the city center where you can experience Elburg in a different way. The city walls have not served for city defense for some time now, but to this day they form an area in which nature, culture and history come together.

History of fortifications
In 1579, William of Orange ordered new city walls to be built around Elburg with a new outer moat. Earlier that century, the Duke of Gelre had already had casemates, cannon cellars or bunkers, constructed on the sea side and at the two main entrance gates north and south of the city. Not much later, in 1592, the Visscherstoren was turned into a gate, creating a connection with the harbor that we now know as the Vischpoort, a typical feature of Elburg. Over time, the wooden bridges over the outer moat will be replaced by stone bridges.

From fortress to walk
Over time, the fortifications lose their military function. This led to the city walls being flattened at the end of the 18th or the beginning of the 19th. Walking lanes are being set up on top of the ramparts. The fortifications are being transformed into public gardens, just like the old inner moat. Vegetable gardens, orchards and the rope maker have previously been located here. A Jewish cemetery is established on the eastern bastion.

Greenery along the walking paths
The green character of the city walls is characterized by grasses and herbs such as cow parsley and the various trees along the walking paths. Most of the trees are Dutch lime trees, but there are also horse chestnuts near the various city gates. Stately oaks and sturdy beech trees can also be seen on the bastions. Along the waterfront it is complemented by weeping willows. Reed collars interspersed with yellow iris can also be found on the water's edge. In the summer months, the canal itself is decorated with the leaves and flowers of the yellow plum.
This ecosystem provides a home for various animals. From ducks, coots, geese and swans in the city canal to small songbirds in the trees. Bees, bumblebees, butterflies and other insects find their home among the herbs. Fire bugs crawl between the roots of the lime trees with their bright red shields. In the winter months, the casemates are used as a hibernation place for bats.

Dutch mountain
The highest bastion of the city is called “Neerlands bergje” by the residents. The top is surrounded by a hedge in which two fortress cannons are housed. Even more beautiful is the view of the “sea side”.
The stronghold
The southern bastion of the fortifications is also called “the stronghold”. Here you will find the oldest and thickest trees in the Red Light District. This part of the wall is mainly of general interest in the months of April and May. This is where the war memorial commemorates five resistance members from Elburg who died during the Second World War.

Judaism
The eastern bastion is called “Judaism”. This is due to the Jewish cemetery that has been located on this part of the wall since approximately 1764. In the beginning there was a hedge around the cemetery, but since 1904 the current wall has been the fence around this place. Through the fence in the gate you can take a look at the various gravestones. Next to the gate there is a plaque commemorating the various Jewish residents of Elburg who did not survive the Second World War. From this bastion you can also enjoy a beautiful view of the back of St. Nicholas Church or the various meadows where many lambs frolic around in the spring.

Protection against high water
If you pay close attention, you will also see two stone walls in the wall. In the first half of the last century there was an opening in the city wall where a tram line entered the city. In the middle of these walls and also near the other walls in the city wall you will find large natural stone blocks built in. These blocks have helped Elburg protect against flooding. Planks could be inserted into the recesses that, propped up with sandbags, closed the holes in the city wall to stop the rising water.The fortifications have a different face in every season and are therefore always worth a visit. A short walk on top of the rampart of approximately 1400 meters is ideal to enjoy the views of the fields around Elburg, but also to see the fortified city from a different perspective.