Military railway line Kapellen-Brasschaat

A long military history

The railway is located in an area with a long military history. In Brasschaat, soldiers exercised on the Klein and later the Groot Schietveld (small and large shooting ranges, respectively). This was also where Belgium’s first military airfield was built. The forts of Kapellen and Brasschaat are close by and the railway crosses a German bunker line from 1917 and the famous anti-tank canal. The military railway was built in order to be able to transport goods, materials and troops from the civil rail network to the barracks.

Rail biking

The railway is no longer used by the army and now lies in the midst of a beautiful natural area. From April up to and including October, you can go rail biking there. Reserve a family bike or a group bike and pedal from Kapellen to Brasschaat and back for a total of 10 km!

Book a ride at www.spoorfietsen.be!

The role of Kempens Landschap

Our organisation has a concession for the railway and organises rail biking together with the municipalities of Kapellen and Brasschaat, as well as the social organisations Wotepa and Rotonde. The overall project is also supported financially by Tourism Flanders in the context of the commemoration of the First World War. The strategic project ‘Fort belts around Antwerp’ also supports the rail biking project.