COEHOORN, MENNO, BARON OF

(1641–1704)

   Soldier and military engineer. Coehoorn participated in the wars against France and rose quickly in rank. His interest in the construction of fortifications led to a first publication in 1682: Versterckinge des vijff-hoecks met alle sijne buyten-werken. After that, he was asked to improve many Dutch fortifications. His chief work, Nieuwe vestingbouw, op een natte of lage horisont (1685), was translated into English [The New Method of Fortification, 1705], French, and German. During the War of the League of Augsburg (1689–1697), he was commissioned to the rank of lieutenant general and became inspector-general of the Dutch fortresses. Coehoorn had his last great successes during the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1713), in Bonn (Germany) and Huy (Southern Nether lands). His French equal was Sebastien le Prestre, lord of Vauban. Coehoorn’s impressive memorial lies in the Frisian village of Wi jckel (Wikel). Many of his fortifications were demolished in the 19th century. Since 1932, the Menno van Coehoorn Foundation has sought the conservation of the remaining ones.