The fortification was initially named Bellingwolderschans, meaning Sconce of Bellingwolde, in 1593. It was renamed Oudeschans, meaning Old Sconce, after the fortification of Nieuweschans, meaning New Sconce, was built in 1628.[2]
In the 1980s, some of the walls, canals, and bastions were restored.[2] In 1991, the fortification became a state protected village area (Dutch: beschermd dorpsgezicht).[3]
Oudeschans is an administrative neighborhood (Dutch: buurt) in the district (Dutch: wijk) of Bellingwolde. The neighborhood has a total area of 46 ha (110 acres), of which 44 ha (110 acres) is land and 2 ha (4.9 acres) is water.[1]
Vestingmuseum Oudeschans is a local museum about the history of the fortification of Oudeschans with a display of archaeological findings from the 17th and 18th centuries.[4]