Excursion by Stichting Oer-IJ in Spaarnwoude: a presentation and a walk around the site of two Roman forts at the mouth of the Oer-IJ.
In the footsteps of the Romans
In Velsen, the remains of two Roman forts with naval harbours were found: Velsen 1 and Velsen 2. They stood at the mouth of the Oer-IJ, an ancient branch of the Rhine. In Roman sources this place may have been known as Flevum. The forts served as military bases and harbours, among other things for the invasion of Britain. The finds show that Velsen played an important role on the northern frontier of the Roman Empire.
Programme
The excursion starts with a presentation about the Oer-IJ as a river and about the Romans in the Netherlands. Then you walk with the guides through the area of the excavations. They tell you about the two forts, the Frisian revolt and the lives of Romans and local people around the beginning of our era.
