Underground, the story of Bergen op Zoom’s growth as a trade and garrison town to the important fortress city it was around 1700 unfolds on multiple projection screens. Fortress builder Menno van Coehoorn, also the spiritual father of the Zuiderwaterlinie, constructed his masterpiece here: La Pucelle (The Maiden), a fortress five times larger than the city of Bergen op Zoom itself! Ready for any attack.

Beautiful old prints are displayed life-size, old maps are revealed, and animations bring history to life. Combined with a soundscape and light show, and through interaction with the guide, the old fortress walls come alive. This multimedia presentation is designed to be suitable for all ages and knowledge backgrounds. With this presentation, the municipality of Bergen op Zoom has taken another step towards making the history of Bergen op Zoom more tangible.

The military past is a significant thread in the history of Bergen op Zoom. Initially as a defensive stronghold, later as a garrison town and training center for (conscription) soldiers. For centuries, fortifications and soldiers have defined the city's appearance. This aspect has become an important part of the city's DNA, shaping the character and identity of the city and its inhabitants.

Although soldiers and the military function of Bergen op Zoom no longer define the city's appearance as of 2017, much still reminds us of this past. Physically, in elements such as the city's layout, street patterns, street names, and buildings. These historical layers added over the centuries are still visible. But not only physically: intangible heritage is also present. In the collective memory, stories (the song "Merck toch hoe Sterck"), and traditions. The military past forms a distinctive and important part of the city's biography and is thus a significant carrier of its identity.

The military past is not only a significant identity carrier of Bergen op Zoom, but it also gave the city a unique and distinctive position during a certain period. In the 18th century, Bergen op Zoom was the most important military stronghold of the Republic in the Southern Netherlands. The strongest fortress of the Republic and perhaps of Europe had a great reputation in the 18th century as the masterpiece of the renowned 17th-century fortress builder Menno van Coehoorn.

The city often played a key role for various rulers in controlling or protecting different areas. Especially the importance of maintaining navigable routes, protecting the Republic through the Frontier cities, sometimes Zeeland/Holland, or precisely Brabant, were elements that made the various rulers who had control over the city strive to retain or conquer it at all costs. This ensured that the city, through investments, attracting famous fortress builders, or the labor of the population itself to defend their homes and hearths, became an increasingly larger and more modern fortress in different periods.

This Fortress Vision is the first exploratory study into the potential of the fortress past to enhance the recreational attractiveness of the city.