Children run through the Municipal Museum of Coevorden in costume and imitate the battle for the fortified city with wooden swords. The new exhibition The Fortress Recaptured about the 350-year relief of Coevorden has been on display for several weeks and is well attended, according to the museum.
However, the exhibition was not yet complete. That has only been the case today with the arrival of an original drumhead from 1672. The museum also displays a traditional mourning plate of the Sickinghe family. “We picked up these objects from the Groninger museum yesterday,” says director Rik Klaucke proudly. “These objects were with the relief of Coevorden and complete the exhibition.”
According to the director, the drumhead is one of the reasons why Coevorden was relieved so quickly 350 years ago. At least that’s the story. “The men from Rabenhaupt’s army came up with a ruse,” says Klaucke. “While there was still a lot of fighting, they played the song of the Oranges.”
At the time, that was the Prinsenmars, the predecessor of the current national anthem, the Wilhelmus. As a result, the occupier of Coevorden – Bommen Berend – thought that the Oranges were coming and fighting no longer made sense.
The Prince’s March can therefore be heard in the museum, where the drumhead is located. There is also a replica of a drum from the year 1672. The replica is not there for show, by the way. It is allowed to be beaten, something the visiting children like to do.
The Municipal Museum in Coevorden also displays a mourning sign. Such a sign used to hang in the church. On it were the names of prominent deceased with name, title and shield. The mourning plaque unveiled today in the museum belongs to the Sickinghe family.
Sickinghe was the major under Rabenhaupt’s command in 1672 and is one of the men who liberated Coevorden. That is why, according to Klaucke, it is ‘of great importance’ that the object can be seen in the exhibition. “Both items have been made available for the exhibition by the van Sickinghe family,” said the director. “That makes it extra special.”