Fort Breendonk

Fort Breendonck is a museum in memory of concentration camp victims. Originally built in 1906 to protect the city from the German armed forces, it is surrounded by water. But, since the main task of the fort and could not stand, when captured by German soldiers there was created a prison in 1940.

The only thing that was missing in this concentration camp was the gas chambers, but even without them, the prisoners had little chance of surviving. Although 185 executions were documented, there were in fact many more, according to credible sources, according to which more than 3,000 people were in the camp and more than 400 people were killed.

After four years of torture, the fort was changed due to the political situation in the country, Belgium was liberated and the fort was used as a prison for collaborators. Three years later, Fort Breendonck was declared a national monument.

Nearly everything has been preserved intact from the war, down to furniture and Nazi swastikas on the walls. The only thing is that the names of those who were never able to return home are now forever imprinted on the walls.

Today, relatives of the victims and those who cherish the history of Belgium come here to honor the memory.