Deurne

Fort 3 has known better times. It is now primarily used as a storage facility and recreational area. The Zoomweg around the Fort, which we will follow, gives a picture of the 35 hectares of land that each fort possessed. In a painting from 1863, we see that Fort 3 is the only fort built according to the original concept of Brialmont.

Until World War I, the garrison of an average fort was about 700 to 800 men, and this could be increased to 2000 soldiers during mobilization. During World War II, Fort 3 was taken over by the German occupier, who set up the machine guns of the airplanes on this domain. The Germans had housed their aircraft factory 'Erla Werken' in the Antwerp Minerva factory. To take off from Antwerp, they also built the first real concrete runway at the Deurne airport. In 1944, the fort would be heavily damaged by V2 flying bombs.

The domain now serves as a recreational area for many residents of Borsbeek, and the 32-hectare area is excellent for walks in partly pristine nature. The wild aspect of the greenery here and there is a conscious choice made to promote the preservation and restoration of natural biotopes. Above all, the entire fort is a green lung for the entire area and a perfect barrier against the still expanding city. The main front building and the caponnier, along with the fort ditch and a plot outside the ditch, are managed by Natuurpunt vzw. The buildings are important as a wintering place for about 150 bats.

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