Originally built as a defensive structure in the third fortification belt around Antwerp, Fort Bornem now lies hidden among trees, water, and memories. It is the only Belgian armoured fort with an irregular quadrangle floor plan. The secret behind this design has not been fully revealed yet.
Construction began in 1906, but when the First World War broke out, the fort was not yet finished. During the interwar period, it became an infantry support point, and in the Second World War it was given a logistical function. Later, it fell into disrepair until it was transformed into a fishing paradise in the 1960s.
Today, the fort is not only a place for relaxation and fishing, but also a refuge for bats and a project under construction. Thanks to the efforts of the Fort Bornem Study Group, its history is gradually being uncovered and its heritage restored.
The Fort of Bornem is located in a strategic spot in the landscape of the Scheldt Valley. It shows how humans and water have influenced each other for centuries. This was once a place of defence and control, but today it offers space for tranquillity, nature and revaluation.