Fortress Plain

The part of the landscape on the territory of Merksem includes a large part of the fortress plain. The fort is part of the belt of forts around Antwerp and was completed in 1876. It is an extension of the original Brialmont ramparts. The fort itself is built on a higher zone, a spur of the Kempen Plateau. As a result, it is in a good defensive position. The fort remained in military use until 1972. It was not until 1977 that it became the property of Merksem and transformed into a recreational area. Just like the other forts, the construction of the fort of Merksem, with its moats and wooded parts, has a number of advantages for many species that are water- or forest-bound. Due to the recreational intensity, the natural value of this fort is somewhat limited. It is partly thanks to the limitations of the field of fire around the fort that a lot of open space has been preserved here. Part of the original fort plain has now been cut off from the fort by the highway. The Laarsebeek flows in that part. Where the Eduard Waghemans Bridge meets the Laar, the stream is still clearly visible.

Groenplan Stad Antwerpen