Two thousand years of history in your backyard: ahead of us, they know nothing; behind us, they know everything.
For over three centuries, the northern border of the Roman Empire ran through what is now the Netherlands. This border, known as the Limes, divided the present-day Netherlands into two parts. The border road, also referred to as the Limes Road, was an integral part of the boundary. It was the main route connecting the castella (forts) along the Limes. Today, this road lies at the heart of Europe, largely hidden beneath the soil. The word “Limes” comes from the Latin term for path.
Walk
The Limes Road is the largest archaeological relic in the Netherlands, almost entirely hidden underground or eroded by rivers. To bring the history of this road to life, DS created a biography. This involved literally walking along the Roman road. By traversing the entire route—through fields, ditches, forests, gardens, and even houses—many fascinating portraits and stories were captured. After DS’s visit, the Limes Road became more tangible for the residents living along it, giving their backyards a new dimension.
Products
Following the fieldwork conducted, the book Limes Road was created, designed by Irma Boom. The book contains detailed maps, GPS coordinates, photographs, essays by archaeologists, designers, and historians, anecdotes from residents, and essential factual material for those who will engage with this invisible phenomenon in the future. After all, the border partly runs through areas that will be redeveloped.
The scarcely visible Limes has now been officially nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Through the book Limes Road, the story of the Limes is shared with a broad audience, bringing the invisible ‘Limes Road’ to light.
DS designed a Limes street brick, produced by Wienerberger. These bricks have been laid in the province of South Holland where the Limes Road intersects with modern roads.
The book was made possible with financial support from: Wienerberger BV (main sponsor), the Netherlands Architecture Fund through the Belvedere Project Subsidy Scheme, LIMES Program Office, Belvedere Project Office, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RACM), VSBfonds, Kf Heinfonds, and Toon Ebben Tree Nursery.
The book is available at bol.com
