Fort Breendonk, Military fort and memorial in Willebroek, Belgium.
Fort Breendonk is a military installation in Willebroek, Belgium, with thick concrete walls, deep moats, and underground chambers from the early 20th century. The structure follows typical defense construction of that period, displaying heavy entrance gates and reinforced steel doors.
The fortification was built in the early 20th century as part of the defensive ring around Antwerp. Between 1940 and 1944, German occupation forces converted the site into an SS detention camp holding over 3,500 people.
The memorial preserves personal belongings, letters, and photographs of prisoners, offering insight into daily life under occupation. Visitors can walk through preserved cells and understand the conditions people endured during their detention.
Guided tours are available in several languages and help navigate the different areas of the site. The grounds are open Tuesday through Sunday between 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM, with visits typically lasting several hours.
Original cells contain inscriptions scratched into walls by prisoners during their confinement. These personal marks provide direct testimony of the people held here and their experiences.
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