schietgaten

Schietgaten, the plural form of schietgat, are firing openings built into defensive walls, towers and bastions. The term translates roughly as “shooting gaps” and corresponds to what English-language sources call loopholes or embrasures. Their purpose is to allow defenders to fire at attackers while exposing the shooter as little as possible. They are typically narrow and elongated, often vertical or slightly inclined, and may include an interior widening or splay to improve the field of fire and provide protection for the shooter.

Design and use of schietgaten vary. Some are simple vertical slits, others are horizontal slots; in more robust examples the opening is surrounded by a sloped interior or outer hood to deflect incoming projectiles and reduce the chance of concealment by attackers. The size of a schietgat depends on the weapon it was intended to fire—smaller for bows or arquebuses, larger for muskets or small artillery pieces—and the surrounding wall thickness. Properly placed schietgaten enable crossfire along a rampart, along approaches to gates, or across vulnerable angles in a fortification.

Historical context and heritage. Schietgaten are characteristic of medieval and early modern fortifications, especially in the Low Countries and parts of Europe, including city walls, towers, and star forts. In modern times many survive as architectural and archaeological remnants, preserved for their military architectural significance. They are studied to understand how defenders managed exposure and aimed fire in constrained, fortified spaces.