Walking among the soldiers

Just outside Brasschaat, Belgium, you can take a beautiful walk through De Uitlegger and the unspoilt 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. The nature around this camp has remained untouched. In the publicly accessible part you will find an unprecedented wealth of plant species, such as heath orchid, bog orchid and bell gentian.

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