Remains of Spanjaerds Schans Lochem - Lochem

We write 1582. The Spaniards under King Philip II had occupied the Netherlands for a long time. When the northern Netherlands revolted against his tyrannical rule and cities in the country declared independence, Philip II sent the Spanish stadholder Fransisco Verdugo out to capture or recapture Lochem.

The demand for surrender was firmly rejected by the authorities in Lochem, after which Verdugo began starving the population. He had the time. Because Verdugo had access to secret maps of Lochem's defences, once made by the late Jacob van Deventer, he knew exactly where best to position his troops and their weapons.

Near what is now the Koedijk, Verdugo had a substantial entrenchment, or defensive wall, built. Made of faggots and turf, this was an imposing but above all sturdy structure. But unfortunately for him, the State army, a group of rebels fiercely opposed to the Spaniards, managed after more than a year to gain victory and free Lochem from its oppressor. This is now known as the Relief of Lochem.