Overview
<infobox>
<title source="title1"> <default>Doelen</default> </title> <image source="image1">
</image> <label>Streamlined location</label> <label>Real life location</label> <label>Built in</label> <label>Function</label> </infobox> The doelen is a landmark in Hazeldrecht, based on various doelens from real life.
Lore
The Hazeldrecht doelen were build in the early 17th century to help defend Hazeldrecht and nearby cities from attacks by hostile ships travelling across the nearby river. The usage of schutterijs saw a heavy decline in the second half of the 18th century and as a result the doelen were only used a couple of times a year. From 1794 to 1802, schutterijs and other unions related to the church were forbidden and so the doelen became a fancy meeting place for the upper class.
In 1802, because of a concordat between Napoleon and pope Pius VII, schutterijs were allowed once more. However, all military and order enforcement tasks were given to the French military and French gendarmerie. The doelen thus remained a social meeting place until 1915, when groups of Dutch soldiers were precautiously stationed at various strongholds throughout the country in case of an attack by the axis.
During the interbellum, the building functioned as a successful bar, which quickly changed once the Second World War broke out. After the bombing of Rotterdam, the building was appointed as bomb shelter as its thick walls meant a higher chance of blocking projectiles from nearby bombs, though it stood as much chance of surviving a direct hit as any building around it. It kept this status throughout the war, though it was never used in this way. The Dutch resistance had various meetings within the doelen's walls and later helped various people hide in it. The latter did not last long as officers from the Axis powers discovered the building in 1943 and created a handful of offices in it as they liked the old style and safety from the stone walls.
After WWII, the offices were swiftly removed and the building was used as temporary living space for those who's houses were gone or badly damaged. When the last of the inhabitants moved out, the building gained a monument status and was turned into a museum.
Real life
Doelens were a popular way to train the schutterij in the 1600s, though evidence suggests some were build all the way in the 14th century.
Doelens were often equipped with different targets for practice with the bow, crossbow and musket, though the latter sometimes got a doelen for themselves; so called 'Kloveniersdoelen'. The kloveniersdoelen from Amsterdam is where Rembrandt van Rijn painted 'De Nachtwacht'.
Though doelens fell out of use in the 19th century and most have been demolished, they often left their mark on towns and cities which have them as many have street names mentioning, or related to, doelens.
Trivia
- The hazeldrecht schutterij has the tower from the doelen in Middelburg, but the roof of a doelen in Hoorn.
- The building was added by Jiskpirate
- The doelen has 2 gates, yet can't be entered.
- Unlike other landmarks like Doornenburg and Hernen Castle.