A Town in Decline
Thanks to the clear field of fire around the fortress, no buildings were ever constructed in the immediate vicinity of Heusden, ensuring that a sweeping view of the Meuse River and the surrounding polder landscape was always preserved. There was also virtually no construction activity within the town itself. The decline that set in during the nineteenth century had turned Heusden into a dilapidated historic town.
Especially after the wartime destruction of 1944, the town was severely damaged. The municipal government faced the task of restoring the town and helping it grow.
A Heusden almost completely transformed
Around 1960, a metropolitan plan was unveiled that focused on increasing scale and creating space for cars. It called for high-rise buildings with views of the Meuse River! And for several breaches in the old ramparts to create good connecting roads. Under pressure from the National Service for Cultural Heritage, however, this plan was scrapped, after which the municipality hired the urban planning firm of architects Zuiderhoek and Peetoom.
They respected the town’s historical structure and used old maps and plans as the basis for their work. The restoration began in 1968. Initially, the cost of this large-scale project was estimated at six million guilders, but partly as a result of high interest rates in the 1980s, the budget was exceeded many times over.
The Fortress Restored to Its Former Glory
The reconstruction of the fortification walls was also part of the restoration. Two city gates were rebuilt, and the old city harbor was restored by excavating the 1904 promenade. The surrounding houses were constructed based on Blaeu’s 1649 map.
The Visbank, dating from 1796, and the Commiezenhuis, which was demolished in 1904, were also restored to their former glory. Heusden was certainly not meant to become an open-air museum, but rather a town where people live and work.
More about the Fortified Town of Heusden
From Restoration to Award-Winning Fortified Town
For the thorough manner in which the city undertook the restoration, Heusden received the National Monuments Prize in 1975 and, in 1978, the highest European award in this field, the “Europa Nostra” restoration prize. But there was also criticism, mainly due to significant cost overruns. As a result, concessions were made around 1980 regarding the original objectives of the restoration project.
Still, the decision to undertake a large-scale restoration of the fortress was a good one, as evidenced by the large number of people who visit the fortress each year. The soldiers of yesteryear have given way to art lovers and water sports enthusiasts
More about the history of Heusden
