Fortress St.-Filips

 place with historical importance, fortification, invisible

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The Fortress St.-Filips of 1870 was one of the 17 fortifications belonging to the second defending girdle around Antwerp. It can be classified as a coastal "armored fortress". It comprised a moat, an entrance building (with a powder storage) and a central brick turret structure. Three coupolas were planned but only two of them were constructed.

Its counterpart was fortress "De Perel" (now disappeared)on the left bank of the river Scheldt. Together with with fort Sint-Marie these three forts guarded the river access to Antwerp. The coupolas were blown up by the retreating Belgian army in 1914 during WWI and after the end of the war it lost its military role.

The fort was used during the 1960's for burning oil waste by the nereby refineries. As a result it is heavely polluted and partially flooded. The entrance is still visible, as well as a part of the main structure, but access is forbidden and considered very dangerous.