During the National Archaeology Days, the municipal archaeological depot of Gorinchem opens its doors annually. Come and see 30 years of archaeological research on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 19, 20, and 21, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM: from wall tiles, tobacco pipes, and children's toys to finds from the 15th century.de century. Admire dice with surprising stories and the…
In October 2023, a special find was made during work on the Dalemsedijk and the waterway behind the Fortes Lyceum in Gorinchem. Twelve heavy stone balls with a diameter of up to 50 cm emerged from the river clay. Presumably leftover 'war ammunition' from the time of the Arkel Wars (1401-1412). The balls were on…
During the restoration of the building Burgstraat 7 in Gorinchem, a dividing wall with wall tiles appeared in 1997. Because the wall was not maintained, the tiles were carefully removed and transferred to the municipal depot. 'De Wan' before and after the restoration in 1997 The tiles date from the 17e century and are very likely (partly)…
In 1881 the house was Burgstraat 33 in Gorinchem, opposite the house with the renaissance facade 't Coemt al van God (1563), a special discovery was made. During work, two classical heroes unexpectedly appeared, hidden behind the old wallpaper. What turned out? Two special tile tableaus with images of the Carthaginian warlord Hannibal and his…
In July and September 2022, archaeological monitoring was carried out at Helmsteeg 1 – 14 in the centre of Gorinchem. Here, new homes were built in existing buildings, for which the foundations had to be reinforced. To achieve this, soil had to be excavated up to approx. 2,55 m +NAP, which could lead to disturbance of archaeological remains. With…
December 17, 2020 marked fifty years since a branch of the Dutch Youth Association for the Study of History (NJBG) was founded in Gorinchem on the initiative of Claas van Kuilenburg. The NJBG was (and still is) a national association for young people aged 12 and over with an interest in history. The…
[atlasvoice] Wednesday, September 16, 2020, marked the official start of the Heroes of Gorkum construction project. In the coming year, 26 new homes will be built on both sides of Bagijnenwalstraat-Lindeboom. Prior to construction, Hollandia Archeologists conducted the final phase of archaeological research in this area this summer. In addition to the 2019…
[atlasvoice] In June of this year, Hollandia Archeologists completed the final phase of the archaeological research on Bagijnenwalstraat. The immediate reason for this was the construction of 26 houses on both sides of Bagijnenwalstraat and the Lindeboom. This project is known as "Heroes of Gorkum" and is being developed by Van Wijnen from Dordrecht.
[atlasvoice] On Tuesday, June 2nd, Hollandia Archeologists began an excavation in the Bagijnenwal development area. The archaeological research is being conducted on behalf of project developer Van Wijnen and precedes the construction of 26 homes in the "Helden van Gorkum" (Heroes of Gorkum) project. The investigation is expected to last three weeks. Based on preliminary research conducted in 2008, 2011, 2012, and…
[atlasvoice] Seize your chance and visit the municipal archaeology depot in Gorinchem. Normally, the depot and workspace are open by appointment only. However, during National Archaeology Days, from Friday, October 11th to Sunday, October 13th, 2019, we will be open to the public from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Admission…
Born in Gorcum, Wilhelmus Adrianus van der Donk (1894-1972) was active from Amsterdam as a member of the States and later also as a deputy for the Catholic People's Party (KVP). He also worked as a tutor (exam supervisor) for students. Van der Donk kept in touch with Gorinchem and focused his interest on the history of the city. Through newspaper articles and brochures…
Willem Frederik Emck was born in 1869 in Gorinchem. His father, of the same name, worked for the municipal government as a messenger. As was not unusual at the time, Emck's junior later also joined the town hall. Initially in the same position as his father, but after some time he rose to become the town receiver. Presumably with…
[atlasvoice] Over the past three weeks, an excavation was carried out in the Knipsteeg in Gorinchem. Based on the preliminary research and the results of the excavation on the Krijtstraat in 2002, the expectation was to learn more about the 15de century Grote School, very high. Despite the fact that nothing of this…
[atlasvoice] On Monday, May 13, the archaeological research agency De Steekproef will begin an exploratory investigation at Knipsteeg. The investigation was originally scheduled a week earlier. Based on the conclusions in the desk study report (2015) and the results of the excavation of the Hof van Arkel and the Grote School (2002) at the…
[atlasvoice] Starting Thursday, May 2nd, the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden will be showcasing an unusual find from Gorcum: a medieval jug, once used as a mousetrap. This "mouse pot," made of simple gray earthenware, was produced in North Flanders between 1275 and 1325. The jug was discovered eight years ago during the excavation of a medieval horse mill at…
[atlasvoice] Would you like to see the beautiful glass from which a principal drank his beer 600 years ago? Or are you curious about the medieval weapons used during the siege of the castle of the Lords of Arkel in Wijdschild? You can do so during the National Archaeology Days from October 12th to 14th. On…
[atlasvoice] Amateur archaeologist Arie Saakes made a spectacular discovery a few months ago. He thought he saw the outline of the Blue Tower's keep on a Royal Air Force aerial photograph from 1944. Aerial photographs can yield a lot of interesting information about archaeological sites, but not every shot is suitable. The photo must first be…
In October 2017, the developer submitted the feasibility study in preparation for the construction of a hotel at the Buiten de Waterpoort location. The documents were assessed and approved by the municipality. It was decided that the archaeological wall remains (including the tower) would be preserved at the site itself, with the wall remains –…
[atlasvoice] The first volume of the Dutch Castle Studies Foundation (SKN) will be published soon. The SKN aims to promote and publish scholarly research on castles, country estates, and related historical green spaces. The publication will include newly discovered castle sites that challenge traditional dating based on external characteristics.
[atlasvoice] At the end of October, the municipality of Gorinchem received the results of the feasibility study on incorporating archaeological finds into the floor of the hotel being built at the Buiten de Waterpoort site. The policy department is now assessing these research results. The municipal executive will then make a decision and inform the municipal council.
[atlasvoice] On Tuesday, November 7, 2017, Hollandia Archeologists from Zaandijk began an excavation at the former cemetery on Groenmarkt-Achter de Kerk. The investigation is necessary due to the planting of four lime trees at this location as part of the redevelopment of the area. The work is estimated to take two weeks…
[atlasvoice] On Tuesday, October 10, Transect BV started an archaeological investigation in Hazewindhondstraat. After the foundations of 17de century buildings and an 18de Earlier this week, a section of the medieval fortress wall was also uncovered. Medieval wall: On Jacob van Deventer's map from 1558, it seems as if…
[atlasvoice] Seize this unique opportunity and visit the municipal archaeological depot in Gorinchem! Normally, the depot and workspace are only accessible by appointment. However, during National Archaeology Days on October 13, 14, and 15, the depot will be open to the public for three afternoons from 2:00 PM. Finds consultation hours: On Saturdays and…
[atlasvoice] This investigation into the skeletons behind the Gorcum Museum building was conducted in anticipation of the placement of garbage containers. Earlier this month, a limited excavation also took place at the Varkenmarkt. The skeletons discovered are being examined further. With dendrochronological research, we also hope to learn more about their age...
[atlasvoice] On Wednesday, August 30th, mechanical soil borings were conducted around the wall remains previously discovered during archaeological research outside the Waterpoort to gain a better understanding of the location of the remains still present underground, so that the foundation and pile plan for the hotel can be adjusted accordingly. The research was conducted…
The municipal archaeology depot will be open to visitors during Open Monument Day on Saturday, September 9th, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Depot volunteers will demonstrate how finds are restored. In addition, archaeological finds from excavations in Gorinchem will be on display in the workspaces. This year, the municipality of Gorinchem is…
[atlasvoice] The permit holder for the new Buiten de Waterpoort hotel has submitted a proposal to incorporate the archaeological finds into the hotel. This proposal must first be assessed for feasibility, for which the permit holder requested approval from the municipal executive board. After consulting with the city council, the executive board…
[atlasvoice] During the week of May 15, 2017, Hollandia archaeologists, commissioned by the municipality of Gorinchem, conducted an archaeological borehole survey at several planned locations within Gorinchem's historic city center. The survey was prompted by the relocation and removal of nine underground waste containers. The associated soil interventions may pose a threat to the…
[atlasvoice] The evaluation report of the archaeological research conducted as part of the permitting process for the construction of a hotel outside the Waterpoort has been released. The main conclusion and recommendations: the discovered fortifications are worth preserving, and it is recommended that they be preserved as much as possible and, where possible, the construction plan be adapted accordingly. The municipality of Gorinchem…
In 1983, a very heavy, approximately 9.30 m thick, roughly east-west running wall was discovered in a construction pit south of Krabsteeg, now Schuttersgracht. The wall was built with stones measuring approximately 25 x 5 x 12 cm. This wall was still preserved up to a height of approximately 3,50 m and rested on a wooden foundation. Parallel to this wall, 2,5 m to the north, a second, approximately...
[atlasvoice] A photo impression of the archaeological research into the wall remains found outside the Waterpoort in Gorinchem. Taken by SOB Research on March 17th.
The excavation of the foundations outside the Waterpoort in Gorinchem is a hot topic in the city. As a follow-up to the lecture evening held earlier at the Gymnasium in Gorinchem, the Historical Society "Oud-Gorcum" is organizing an evening on Monday evening, March 13th, with the theme "The Blue Tower: Why Was It in Gorinchem and…"
[atlasvoice] Many questions remain about the exact location of the remains of the former castle complex, the Blauwe Toren (Blue Tower). At the request of the Menno van Coehoorn Foundation, W. Annema, engineer, overlaid several old maps on the current map of this area. Annema, W. (2017) The significance of the discovered remains of the fortifications…
[atlasvoice] In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the archaeology of modern wars. Therefore, the Noordbrabants Museum is devoting extensive attention to this fascinating new field of soil research. What can you find in the soil of battlefields? What does it add to what we know about waging war? The…
[atlasvoice] At the end of November, archaeologists from SOB Research made a special discovery during a test trench investigation in the Buiten de Waterpoort area: a section of the old city wall from the 14th century.de century with an accompanying tower. Parts of the city wall have previously been found elsewhere in the city. This discovery makes the…
[atlasvoice] A few months ago, the Dutch Castle Studies Foundation (SKN) was established. The foundation's goal is to promote and publish research on castles, country estates, and related historical green spaces. The first issue will be released in March and includes, among other things, a comprehensive publication by Taco Hermans and Edwin Orsel on the renovation of…
[atlasvoice] In the first week of January 2017, the municipal archaeological depot moved from its location in Avelingen to Arkelsedijk, the former home of the Municipal Health Service (GGD) and the ambulance service. Preparations for this move took a long time. For example, finding a replacement space that…