Fort Walem

Fort Walem lies next to the village of the same name, in the province of Antwerp in the Flemish region in Belgium.

After Belgium gained independence in 1830, concerns about a European conflict or invasion persisted, mainly from the Netherlands and France. Since Belgium lacked significant natural defenses, it was decided not to defend the entire country but to establish a 'National Redoubt.' For strategic, political, and economic reasons, the city of Antwerp was chosen to serve as that Redoubt.

In 1859, the Belgian government decided to defend Antwerp by constructing a new rampart around the city, called the 'Big Rampart,' based on plans by military engineer Capt. Henri Alexis Brialmont. It included a 15 km-long earthen rampart with 19 gates and an advanced ring of 8 forts, known as the Brialmont Forts.

Although building the rampart and forts was a massive, costly project, it was completed in 1864. However, due to the city's expansion and advances in artillery, these fortifications became insufficient just a few decades later. As a result, at the end of the 19th century, a new line of defense was constructed, which included 6 additional forts, among them Fort Walem and Fort Steendorp.

Fort Walem was built between 1878 and 1883 to protect the old main road between Antwerp and Mechelen. It was constructed from brick but was reinforced with concrete between 1891 and 1900, turning it into an armored fortress.

During the German invasion in 1914, the Belgian troops inside the fort resisted German attacks for five days. The fort was heavily damaged during the conflict.

Between 1960 and 1992, Fort Walem was used by the Belgian Civil Protection. They left behind hundreds of metal containers filled with gas masks, which can still be seen in some parts of the fort. Afterward, it briefly served as an emergency shelter for asylum seekers before being abandoned. Since 2009, it has been owned by an environmental organization and functions as a bat habitat.

The fort has a trapezoidal layout and lacks a central redoubt. It is surrounded by a wide moat.

Currently, Fort Walem is in a state of ruin and cannot be freely visited; it is open only for guided tours on special days. It is a very nice fort.

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