Walking among the soldiers

Just outside the Belgian town of Brasschaat you can take a beautiful walk through De Uitlegger and the unspoiled nature of Het Klein Schietveld.

Wilderness
Brasschaat has a long military history. A history that goes back to the early nineteenth century when Belgium was part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Het Klein Schietveld was opened around 1820. Shooting exercises were held here until 1894, after which a military camp was built. Nature has remained undisturbed around this camp. In the publicly accessible part you will find an unprecedented wealth of plant species, such as heather orchid, bog orchid and bell gentian.

Anti-tank ditch
Further on you pass De Uitlegger, a vast park with ponds lined with rhododendrons. You pass the Fort of Brasschaat, which is part of the defensive belt around Antwerp. In the 1970s, the Belgian army tried to blow up this fortress with dynamite, without success. You also walk a bit along the Antitankgracht that was dug between 1937 and 1939. Nature has free reign on the banks, it is wonderful to walk.