Fort 7

Fort 7 in Antwerp, located in the municipality of Borsbeek near the city's international airport, was built between 1860 and 1864 as part of Belgium's 'Big Rampart' defense system designed by military engineer Henri Alexis Brialmont. Distinguished by its notably higher ramparts compared to neighboring forts, Fort 7 remains the most completely preserved specimen of Antwerp's original fortification ring and has been protected as a monument since 1994. During World War II, the Germans repurposed the fort as a Luftwaffe munitions storage facility. Today, the site functions as a nature reserve and bat habitat, with restricted access available only through guided tours organized on special occasions.