A 17th-century camp is rising on the Wapenplaats in Geertruidenberg. More than 250 people meet there this weekend, to dress up as a figure from 1625. Simon Corstjens (32) from Geertruidenberg. “I portray someone from the Eighty Years’ War.”
“Are we placing the Commandantstent here?” In a 17th-century costume, Simon walks on the site along the Stadsweg in Geertruidenberg, where the sound of hammer blows on tent pegs and a crackling fire sounds. This weekend that will be exchanged for cannon shots and arms clatter, during the historic event ‘Geertruydenberg 1625’.
Under the smoke of the Amer power plant, heritage adviser Simon tells passionately about his hobby as a re-enactor. “That is as historically faithful as possible to replay a true event,” he explains. He does this himself at the Bergsche Battery, a re-enactment group from Geertruidenberg who has been playing events from the Eighty Years’ War for thirty years.
“My love of history arose in the knight’s tournaments in the Land van Ooit.”
Simon developed a broad interest in history at a young age. As a child he wanted to become a Molenaar and regularly visited Loevestein Slot. “And the knight’s tournaments in the former Land van Ooit. There was really the love for history,” he says gleeping.
“That love has led me to finally bring history to life,” he continues. He was tipped through a newspaper clipping that the Bergsche Battery was looking for members. “Then I put on the bad shoes and I walked by.” He has been a member of the company for 12 years.
“A jack of everything,” he calls his role within the Bergsche Battery. He is on the cannon, wears a musket (a 17th-century firearm, ed.) Or walks with a peak (a long lance, who served as a bump or stab weapon, ed.). He is also the commander’s right hand and helps his campmates prepare the food. “We carry out the story of Geertruidenberg and the sieges that it had at the time.”
“We tell visitors the story of their national history.”
This weekend Simon goes back 400 years in time, to the year 1625. Then the siege of Breda was by the Spaniards. To free the city, 75,000 soldiers were collected in Geertruidenberg by Frederik Hendrik, the then Prince of Orange.
“We tell visitors the story of their national history,” says Simon. For example, various educational demonstrations are given and the battle is re -enacted. “How did that really work? We try to convey that.”
