On Thursday 10 September, guests gathered at the Markiezenhof for the festive opening of ‘Between Fortress & Delta’.

The new permanent exhibition tells the story of Bergen op Zoom through the lens of the town’s unique location: on the boundary between clay and sand, salt and fresh water, and in the heart of a landscape where water and soil have played a vital role for centuries.

The evening began with a warm reception, during which visitors were welcomed to the sound of live music. Koen Brakenhoff then opened the official programme.

Rob van den Aarsen, Councillor for Culture, Economy and Work & Income, was the first to speak. His speech focused, amongst other things, on the remarkable history of the model of Bergen op Zoom. With a personal and humorous account, he recounted the transport of the impressive model, which had previously also given the space its name: 1747.

Bram de Kort, director of Interreg Flanders-Netherlands, then spoke about the exhibition and its significance within the (Be)Leefbare Schelde initiative. As part of (Be)Leefbare Schelde, the exhibition helps to reshape the tourist’s narrative: not just showing what there is to visit, but also immersing visitors in the landscape, the stories and the identity of an area.

He was also personally enthusiastic about the new presentation. His enthusiasm for the new venue was infectious and made the audience curious to discover what lay behind the doors.

Koen Brakenhoff brought the programme to a close with the observation that this is ‘where Zeeland meets Brabant’. He believes that the new space has created a venue for telling the stories of the area in greater depth and for taking visitors on a journey through the landscape as seen through the eyes of the people who live and work there.

During the opening, special mention was made of all the people and organisations that contributed to the creation of the exhibition. The dedication of the guides and volunteers was also acknowledged with great appreciation. Special thanks were also extended to the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, which played a key role in relation to the historical model.

With the opening of ‘Tussen Vesting & Delta’, the new exhibition is now officially open to the public. Visitors can discover how water, soil and climate have shaped not only the landscape, but also the history and future of Bergen op Zoom.

Curious about ‘Tussen Vesting & Delta’? Discover the new exhibition for yourself at the Markiezenhof. Visit the Markiezenhof website for more information and current opening hours.