BELGIUM ~ Fortress Napoleon - Ostend ~

...Great aerial view...nicely situated in the dunes on the edge of the beach on the east bank or “Oosteroever”... this postcard is a bit special for me because it reminds me of our yearly day out with the dogs in Ostend (to the beach on the Fortress) a long time ago...this was before the fortress was renovated... back then it was badly vandalized... nowadays it's certainly worth a visit...  Heel erg bedankt Sabrina, Koen, Ann en Leon!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Fort Napoleon in Ostend is a polygonal fort built in the Napoleonic era.  At the end of the 18th century, France annexed the region. Napoleon feared an invasion from England via Ostend harbour and therefore ordered an imposing fort to be built.
The building of the fortress started in 1810 and was completed in 1814. The fortress had to protect 250 soldiers.   A 10m high moat surrounds the brick building. Despite its impressiveness, the fort never saw action.

In both World Wars, the fort got a new lease of life as artillery quarter for the German army. Since 1995 the Flemish Heritage Association has managed the fort. It made sure it was restored and turned into an open monument.

Stamp:

King Philippe
(Issued 28-10-2013)