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Aerial photograph of Burgh from the south-west - Burgh - 20045942 - RCE

Aerial photograph of Burgh from the south-west - Burgh - 20045942 - RCE. CC BY-SA 4.0

Fryske Akademy co-organises international seminar on Zeeland ring wall

Event

History and heritage

The municipality of Schouwen-Duiveland is working with national and international partners to make the Burgh ring wall more visible and accessible. On 30 and 31 October, this Zeeland municipality, together with the University of Groningen and the Fryske Akademy, is organising an international seminar. Specialists from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Denmark will share their knowledge and experience.

Prof. Nelleke IJssennagger-van der Pluijm is involved in the seminar on behalf of the Fryske Akademy. She is the director-administrator of the Fryske Akademy and has also been appointed professor by special appointment of Cultural History of the Southern North Sea Region in the Early Middle Ages and Viking Age.

Knowledge sharing as the foundation for future plans

The ringwalburg in Burgh, the best preserved of five medieval strongholds in Zeeland, is on the eve of an extensive redevelopment. An important part of the project is gaining and sharing knowledge with experts from home and abroad. The municipality expects this to provide important ideas and insights for the realisation of the plans.

The actual redevelopment of the ring wall is planned for 2026, with a possible extension to 2027. The focus will be on preserving the archaeological character, enhancing the natural values, improving the integration into the landscape and increasing the tourist experience in Burgh-Haamstede.

Defensive works from the Viking Age 

In the 9th century, European coastal areas from Denmark to France were ravaged by Vikings. As a defence, residents built so-called ring forts: fortified settlements with an earthen rampart and wooden fence.

In the programme on 30 and 31 October, researchers from KU Leuven, Museum Southeast Denmark, Wageningen University and various municipalities will give presentations on the archaeology, history and future of the early medieval ring wall. The seminar will take place at Boerderij Molenberg, Hogeweg 53 in Burgh-Haamstede.

 

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