The Round Table - Hoogenweg

At the crossroads of Hoogeweg and Venebrugge near Hardenberg stands a round table with chairs, including one separate chair. This refers to the Spanish occupation during the Eighty Years' War.

In 1580, the Battle of the Hardenberg Heath took place just south of Hoogenweg, on the Hardenberg Field. In 1579, the northern provinces had signed the Union of Utrecht in resistance to Spain. But the governor of Groningen and Overijssel, Count Rennenberg, betrayed them and rejoined Spain. A Spanish army, led by commander Maarten Schenk, marched in to relieve the city of Groningen, while Dutch troops under Count of Hohenlohe rushed to confront them.

On 17 June 1580, the two forces clashed near Venebrugge/Hardenberg. The Dutch soldiers, tired and thirsty from marching, still chose to fight. At first, they seemed to have the upper hand. But then Maarten Schenk deployed his reserves, and the tide turned. The Dutch troops fled after an hour or less; many were killed or beaten by angry farmers as they fled in panic. The city of Groningen would remain in Spanish hands for the time being.