Fort Breendonk, concentration camp turned National Memorial

It’s a sunny day. The bright blue skies contrast with the dark grey structure I’m about to enter. I’m visiting the Fort of Breendonk, a former Nazi prison or concentration camp here in Belgium and now the National Breendonk Memorial.

Fort of Breendonk before WWII

Fort Breendonk is sadly best known for the horror that took place there during World War II, but it was built right before World War I as part of the second ring of defenses around the city of Antwerp.

The first ring was built after the war with Napoleon, when it had become clear that Belgium could not hold back an attack from the French if it came. It was also then that Antwerp was chosen as the last stronghold or the Reduit National in case of attack.

However, military weaponry evolved quickly between the mid-19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, so that the defenses of Antwerp were often revised and modified, including the construction of the Fort Breendonk, built from 1906 until 1914.

The fort played its part in World War I but had to surrender to the Germans within the year. History would repeat itself.

Fort Breekdonk during WWII

During the preparations for World War II, Fort of Breendonk was chosen as the quarter of King Leopold III in the case of an attack. The king arrived there May 10, 1940, but only six days later, the men at Fort Breendonk had to surrender.

The Germans moved in and turned Fort Breendonk into a detention camp for Jews and political prisoners. When the resistance in Belgium grew, so did the number of prisoners in Breendonk and Breendonk became a transit camp: each time the number of prisoners got too high, a part of them were sent away to the concentration camps in Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Visiting Fort Breendonk today

Informational panels at the Breendonk concentration camp

The Fort Breendonk National Memorial wants to show visitors what life at this prison was like. That happens through information signs, but also with an audio guide and interviews with former prisoners displayed on screens throughout the Fort.

Walking around through the halls and rooms, it feels as if Fort Breendonk has been left completely unchanged. The severe cold inside – I'm shivering even with a hat and my winter jacket on – contrasts yet again with the blue sky outside, as does the grey exterior of the building.

At the grounds of the Breendonk camp

I'm glad I'm visiting by myself. This place makes me quiet. But I'm not the only visitor today. There are a couple of foreign tourists and a group of school kids. The kids, or teenagers rather, are about 13 years old. “That's young to come to such a place”, I think, and I get a little closer to hear what their guide is telling them.

To my surprise, the guide doesn't make things sound less gruesome than they were. She talks about the terrible treatment prisoners received here from the guards, and how many people died here.

I still don't how I'd tell a group of kids about the history of the Fortress of Breendonk – and I don't know if I ever could – but I did notice that these kids seemed interested. They didn't play when their teachers didn't see it or make a lot of noise. They were listening attentively and asking questions after each explanation.

One of the hallways at the Breendonk fort

I wonder if they're less sensitive to the stories, as if the history of Fort Breendonk is just that to them – history. Obviously, I didn't ask them, but I do hope nobody ever becomes insensitive to what has happened here and throughout World War II, and I also hope there will always be teachers and guides taking it upon them to explain this part of history to younger generations.

Walking the grounds around The National Memorial of Breendonk

I left the group again and continued with the tour. There are arrows all throughout the Fortress of Breendonk telling you where to go. This way, the halls inside and paths outside of the Fortress have become like a one-way street and you can never get lost.

The showers at Breendonk

At a certain moment, I happened upon another group. Adults, this time. Foreign tourists. They were being lead by a guide who'd taken them into the room you see pictured below. This room is normally not accessible, but I was lucky to be able to go in with them.

Well, “lucky” is maybe not the correct worth, as the things you'll feel while visiting Fort Breendonk are anything but positive emotions due to the stories you're confronted with.

The room below holds several urns with the ashes of people who've died in different concentration camps as well as the names of more than 3,500 who were held captive at this particular camp in Belgium.

The names of people who've been held captive at Breendonk

Finally, I stepped outside again. The visit ended where it began: in front of the entrance of the Fort Breendonk. Does this place make you happy? Obviously not. Should you visit it? Absolutely. A part of Belgian, European and even world history is very well explained here and kept alive so that new generations will never forget.

One of the train carriages that used to carry prisoners in and out of Breendonk

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I was a guest of the Fortress of Breendonk during my visit. Partnerships like these allow me to travel more and create new content for the blog. They'll never affect my opinion.