Fort van Beieren, Military fort and nature reserve near Koolkerke, Belgium.

Fort van Beieren is a fortification with a square ground plan featuring four bastions, earthen ramparts, and a moat enclosing a central courtyard with a ravelin. The 26-hectare site is crisscrossed by walking trails that connect to surrounding woods and wetland networks near the Damse Vaart channel.

French troops built the fort during the War of the Spanish Succession, and five French battalions were stationed there to defend Bruges against attacks from the Northern Netherlands. It was never attacked and lost its purpose after 1706; the last soldiers left in 1748. The Germans used it again in the Second World War. In 1998 West Flanders province bought it and opened it to the public.

The site functions today as a recreational space where visitors walk among historical military structures embedded in the landscape. The preserved fortifications frame how people experience both history and nature in a single place.

Explore the site on foot using well-marked trails that pass through wooded and wet areas. Wear sturdy shoes as the ground can become muddy, especially after rain, and the paths wind through natural terrain.

Rare butterfly species and specialized waterbirds inhabit the grounds because private ownership long protected it from disturbance. This role as a refuge for specific wildlife makes it notable for nature watchers.