Fortress 6, Wilrijk (Antwerp (municipality))

 campus, park, recreation area / ground, place with historical importance, fortification

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Fortress 6, Wilrijk is one of the 17 fortifications belonging to the small defending girdle around Antwerp.
Build in 1859, to be part of the Brialmont girdle to defend the city.
In 1971 the University of Antwerp purchased the fortress, but the municipal of Wilrijk protested. They had already invest heavily in the sport infrastructure on the domain.
The University had to promise that it would preserve the fortress and had to allow that the existing sport infrastructure could be expand.
Of the commitment to maintain the existing infrastructure nothing has been done.
The redoubt is in poor shape. After many vandal acts (such by students parties), accessing the redoubt was hazardous and it had to be closed off.
The dry trench is used as a dumping ground for green waste and due to congestion it was soon a wet trench.

Other parts of the fortress are preserved better, the officers mess is now the language and speech school, on the campus “Drie Eiken” it is known as building E.

Several (student) associations have also their accommodations:
“Den Hagar” administrated by WINAK (Math students)
“de Spoed” administrated by Aesculapia (medicine students)
“Biokot” administrated by Fabiant (biology students)

Civilian associations:
Para-Commando vriendenkring
AZUA tennis club

Protected architectural heritage (ID: 11568)