The Dutch fortress that earned the nickname The Virgin

Wars & Conflicts · Published 17 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For centuries, Bergen op Zoom was considered impregnable. Surrounded by marshes and flooded polders, it served as a primary arsenal for the United Provinces. It famously repelled major sieges during the Eighty Years War, earning a reputation as a city that could never be taken.

The strategic dominance of Bergen op Zoom was rooted in its unique geography. The city sits where sandy soil meets marine clay; over centuries, the sand pushed against the clay to form hills known as the Brabantse Wal (literally 'ramparts of Brabant'). This natural elevation, combined with easily flooded polders and marshes, created a formidable defensive barrier that was difficult for land-based armies to breach.

During the Eighty Years War beginning in the late 16th century, the city became a vital stronghold for the Dutch Republic. It successfully withstood two major sieges: one by Alessandro Farnese in 1588 and another by Ambrosio Spinola in 1622. Because it remained unconquered throughout these conflicts, the city was given the nickname 'La Pucelle' or The Virgin.

However, this reputation for invincibility eventually met its end. In 1747, during the War of the Austrian Succession, French forces laid siege to the city. Despite Menno van Coehoorn adding a canalised Scheldt diversion for a moat and three forts during the early 1600s, the site lacked an interior stronghold or additional defensive layers. After seventy days, the city fell, was thoroughly sacked, and its garrison was slaughtered.

The city's history is also marked by religious shifts. During the Eighty Years War, it sided with the Dutch Republic and Protestantism, forcing Catholics to worship in secret barns. While Protestants dominated the council until the 18th century, the population shifted back to a Catholic majority in the late 1700s, eventually gaining full emancipation during the French period between 1795 and 1814.

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