Fort Ertbrand is a Belgian fortification located near the town of Putte, Antwerp, Belgium. Fort Ertbrand was part of the 3rd and final phase of defenses constructed around Antwerp. The fort was also part of the last defenses constructed in the National Redoubt.
Construction Fort Ertbrand was constructed between 1908 and 1912, and is a trapezoidal shape. The fort is located on its own artificial island within Antwerp. The process of arming Fort Ertbrand and the other new fortifications around Antwerp was in progress when Germany invaded in August 1914.
History Fort Ertbrand was garrisoned by 500 soldiers when Germany invaded in August 1914, but didn't see any action because the Germans besieged Antwerp from the south. The fort was armed with:
2 15cm howitzers in 22cm thick revolving armored domes 2 12cm howitzers in 22cm thick revolving armored domes 4 7.5cm guns in 22cm thick revolving armored domes 6 5.7cm guns in 22cm thick armored domes 14 5.7cm guns in casemates 4 12cm howitzers in casemates 8 7.5cm guns in casemates 4 30cm spotlights 2 90cm spotlights
In 1917, Germany included Fort Ertbrand in the defensive plans of the area. During the inter-war period, a gas-lock was added, alongside an anti-tank moat that surrounds the fort. All of this work was for nought because Fort Ertbrand was abandoned on May 17, 1940. After the war, Belgian authorities used the fort as a center for the Belgian Demining Service, who disarmed munitions from during the war. Shortly afterwards, the fort was abandoned because it became no longer useful. the fort was sold to a private individual who used it as a hunting reserve for many years. Today, Fort Ertbrand is owned by the Belgian non-profit Natuurpunt, which conserves the site because a rare species of bats hibernate in it. You can also walk around the fort during the summer.