Fort van Steendorp

Fort van Steendorp is the largest fort of the outer Antwerp fortification belt and the last fort in Belgium built entirely of brick. It stands in the village of Steendorp, now part of the municipality of Temse in East Flanders, on the eastern bank of the Scheldt near where the Rupel river flows in.

Why was this fort built?

Belgium had no significant natural defensive barriers, so in the second half of the 19th century the country adopted a different strategy: rather than defending the whole territory, it built a so-called National Redoubt — a heavily fortified stronghold where the army and government could retreat in case of invasion. Antwerp was chosen as the center of this system as early as 1859, and a ring of outer forts was raised around the city to keep any attacker at bay.

The fort at Steendorp was constructed between 1882 and 1892 as a bridgehead fort, guarding the river crossing near Rupelmonde. It was originally named Fort Rupelmonde and only received its current name, after the village of Steendorp, in 1909.

What makes it stand out from the other forts?

Fort van Steendorp is the largest structure in the entire outer Antwerp fortification belt and was also the most expensive fortification project Belgium had undertaken up to that point. It was equipped with dry moats, an exceptional and unique feature within the Antwerp Fortification — most of the other forts in the ring relied on water-filled moats instead. As the last brick fort built in the country, it also marks the end of an era in Belgian military architecture, shortly before concrete became the material of choice for withstanding modern artillery.

How did the fort fare through both world wars?

The fort played a significant, and at times grim, role during both world wars. During the First World War, the occupying German forces used it as a facility for producing war gases — a dark chapter that remains part of the site's history. In the Second World War, the German occupier turned it into an ammunition storage depot. Both conflicts also brought heavy bombardments that severely damaged the fort's structure.

What can visitors find at Steendorp today?

Today the fort is managed by the Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos (the Agency for Nature and Forests) and is largely overgrown, giving it a distinctive atmosphere where military history meets untamed nature. The structure itself is protected as a monument, and the surrounding area is protected as landscape. This combination draws both visitors interested in military history and fortification architecture, and those simply looking for a quiet walk through greenery close to the Scheldt.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Fort van Steendorp located? In the village of Steendorp, part of the municipality of Temse, in East Flanders, on the Scheldt near the mouth of the Rupel.

When was the fort built? Between 1882 and 1892, as part of the outer ring of the Antwerp Fortification.

Why is it exceptional? It is the largest fort in that outer ring, the last brick fort ever built in Belgium, and the only one in the entire Antwerp system equipped with dry moats.

Can the fort be visited? The site is managed by the Agency for Nature and Forests; both the fort and its surroundings are protected, and the structure itself is heavily overgrown with vegetation.