Fort Kessel

Casemated caponier

The fort at Kessel was built in 1909-1912 as part of the first line of defence (known as the Hoofdweerstandstelling) of the fortification of Antwerp. It is a concrete casemated fortress of the 2nd order with an attached reverscaponier situated between the forts of Lier and Broechem, with the inundation zones of the Grote and Kleine Nete as an additional defence. The defence and shelling of the fort in 1914 were disastrous for the municipality. In 1939, the fort was adapted and in the context of mobilisation redeployed in military defence; afterwards it was used as a training ground.

The role of Kempens Landschap

Since 1973, the fort has belonged to the municipality of Nijlen. The local council wants to manage the site sustainably, respecting both its natural and cultural value. Several partners, therefore, are thinking together about what kinds of activities can or cannot take place there. For several years, our organisation has been involved in researching the fort’s heritage value. This led to an application to the agency Onroerend Erfgoed for protection as a historical monument at the end of 2015.