Exercitievelden

Exercitievelden are designated open spaces used by military forces for drill, training, and ceremonial parades. The term combines exercitie (drill or exercise) with veld (field). Historically, exercitievelden were common in the Netherlands and surrounding regions as official training grounds for infantry and later for other arms. They were typically located on the outskirts of towns or near fortifications, but could also lie within city boundaries. The terrain was kept flat and unobstructed to allow orderly formations, marching, firing drills, and field maneuvers. Some fields featured demarcated drill lanes, practice ranges, and space for reviews or muster parades, overseen by officers.

In the course of the 18th and 19th centuries, exercitievelden played a central role in military life, serving as the site where recruits learned discipline and unit cohesion before deploying to campaigns. As urban development progressed and military organization changed, many exercitievelden were repurposed. Some were converted into public parks, sports grounds, or residential areas, while others were preserved as historical sites or integrated into museums and heritage routes. In some towns, former exercitievelden are commemorated with plaques or preserved gates and fortifications, reflecting their historical function.

Today, the term exercitieveld is largely historical in Dutch usage, though it remains a useful label for similar open drill and parade grounds in other contexts. The concept highlights the close relationship between military training, urban space, and public life in periods when drill and ceremony were central to military culture.