Ermelo - Romeins marskamp - Ermelo

Traces of a Roman army camp have been found near Ermelo. A complete legion of 5,000 men camped here for a few days before leaving again. Their presence is a great mystery, because the camp is located 35 km north of the then border. The contours of the camp can still be seen. Discovery of […]

Discovery of the Roman marching camp

On a map from the 19th century, a strange, crooked rectangle is drawn between Ermelo and Leuvenum with the words ‘Heidensch Kamp’. In 1922, the famous archaeologist Holwerda discovered that these were the remains of a Roman army camp. Since then, the camp has slowly been hidden from view due to the planting of forests and the construction of the provincial road to Harderwijk. Nevertheless, an extensive excavation of the southern part of the camp followed in 1987.

Roman marching camp could accommodate legion

The camp measured 250 by 350 meters and was surrounded by an earthen wall almost one meter high and a V-shaped moat 1.5 meters deep. On top of the wall were cross-connected poles. Inside, hundreds of tents stood in neat rows. Each tent had room for eight people who had to rely on each other and also had to cook together. Their hearths have been found, as has the place where they drove their wooden pegs into the ground. The camp was only used for a few days, but it was used by an entire legion.

Strategic location at the highest point in the area

The camp appears to have been built between 170 and 180. The reason is still a mystery. Perhaps it was part of a military lightning action against the Chauken in northern Germany, but the written sources are silent about this. The location is very strategic, at one of the highest points in the area. The former Zuiderzee, the Flevomeer, was only one day’s march away. Maybe we’ll never know the reason. But for now this is the only known Roman marching camp in the whole of the Netherlands.