Fort van Koningshooikt, Military fortification in Koningshooikt, Belgium
Fort van Koningshooikt is a military fortification in Lier with a trapezoidal design surrounded by a moat up to 50 meters wide. The structure spans 35 hectares and contains multiple casemates, tunnels, and reinforced sections built for defense.
The fortress was built between 1907 and 1908 as part of Antwerp's outer defense ring. German forces captured it in October 1914 during the early stages of World War I.
The fortress now shelters important bat colonies within its fortified chambers and structures, giving the old military complex a modern purpose in wildlife protection. This shows how a place built for war has become valuable for conserving nature.
Visit during daytime hours to see the grounds and structures clearly. Comfortable walking shoes are essential since the site is large and the terrain can be uneven.
An off-road motocross circuit was established on the grounds in the 1980s. This transformation turned a former military stronghold into a venue for recreational motorsports activities.
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