Graaf van Hoorn Camp

In this war, the fortress Genneper Huys near Gennep was alternately occupied by the Dutch States Army and the Spanish. In 1635, the Spanish captured the fortress and strengthened it. In 1641, the Siege of Gennep began: on June 9 of that year, a force of about 20,000 men from the States Army, led by Frederick Henry of Orange, arrived at Genneper Huys.

Rumors spread that a Spanish army was on its way from Venlo. Therefore, a defensive line was established around Genneper Huys to protect Frederick Henry's troops. Within a week, a continuous system of walls and moats was constructed with a total length of 15 kilometers. Inside the walls, various fortifications and military camps were set up.

One of these camps was the Camp of the Count of Hoorn. This camp was located between the Milsbeek marshes and natural elevations, close to the besieged fortress. On June 22, 1641, the soldiers at the camp repelled a fierce attack from 2,000 Spanish soldiers coming from the Cleves Forest. Thus, the Camp of the Count of Hoorn played a key role in the siege. On July 29, 1641, Genneper Huys was captured to the sound of ringing bells and celebratory bonfires.

Findings

During the construction of the parking lot, artifacts related to the Camp of the Count of Hoorn were discovered. These included pipes, pottery shards, iron objects, coins, a buckle, and musket balls.