THE BATTLE OF BOURTANGE
During the Eighty Years’ War, the Spanish attempted to capture the fortified town of Bourtange in 1640. This famous battle is still reenacted every two years, completely historically accurate with over 600 hundred reenactors, in and around the fortress. In this series, I depict the story of this battle.
The Battle of Bourtange Foundation asked me to create a series that honors this historic battle and showcases the story in the way it deserves.
State portraits of historical figures, chaotic scenes on the battlefield and life in the camp. This series tells the story of the Battle of Bourtange.
The Captains Council
We are standing in the original home of the Dutch Colonel Bernard Johan Prott located in the fortress. Prott commanded the Dutch in the battle against the Spanish.
The captains are discussing plans for the battle to come.
The Bishop of Münster offered Prott 200,000 coins to surrender to the Spanish. Prott refused and said that 200,000 bullets were waiting for him.
A clear sign that they were ready for battle.
The Battle of Bourtange | ‘The Battlefield’
T H E B A T T L E F I E L D
I was granted the exceptional privilege of entering the battlefield itself to capture this Hollywood-style spectacle.
With real weapons, cannons and muskets, manoeuvring amongst the troops felt realistically dangerous, but just this makes it unreal.
The extraordinary historically accurate organisation and staging of the battle made it feel like I was really in the middle of this war in 1640.
The Battle of Bourtange | ‘life on the Camp’
The Battle of Bourtange | ‘Storm above the Fortress’
Colonel Bernard Johan Prott
Bernard Johan Prott was a Dutch general who fought in the Battle of Bourtange against the Spanish in 1740.
The goal of this series was to create a formal portrait of the Dutch general to honor him and his service.
His house within the fortress has been left completely intact.
During the battles, I found someone who bears a striking resemblance to Prott, and I collected clothing matching the status of a Dutch general.
Even the portrait of Prott that you see in the background is an original.
