Koninklijk Museum van het Leger en de Krijgsgeschiedenis
Musée royal de l’Armée et d’Histoire militaire 

A survey of more than 10 centuries of military and technological history: that would perhaps be the best way to describe the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History. The collections range from suits of armour over valuable firearms and masterly crafted swords to armoured vehicles and airplanes.

Uniforms both Belgian and foreign demonstrate the evolution in military equipment and the influence of civil fashion on military clothing.

The history of our country is of course never far away: the Austrian, French and Dutch periods, Belgian independence and military politics, the weal and woe of the dynasty, the big world conflicts,… Everything is brought back to life through numerous paintings, sculptures, decorations and other memorabilia.

Jubelpark 3
B-1000 Brussel
Belgium

www.klm-mra.be

Photography: © Simon Stevin VVC (ML)

Fort Liezele

After the revolution of 1830, Belgium became a neutral state, the independence of which was guaranteed by the great powers of the day: France, Great Britain, Prussia, Austria and Russia. In case of an aggression it had to defend itself long enough, to gain time to find a political solution or to seek military assistance.

Defending the entire Belgian territory was hopeless for the small Belgian army. About 1850 the idea of building a National Reduit (which means one large fortification) came to the fore.

If the country was attacked, the government would find refuge in this National Reduit, as long as the army faced the anemy. If the balance of forces allowed for it, the field army would face the enemy, otherwise it would conduct a retrograde operation and fall back on the National Reduit. In this great fortress the army could hold on for weeks, even months waiting for the help of the great powers to arrive.

Fort Liezele, one of the best preserved pre-World War I forts of the fortress Antwerp, lies hidden in the greenery between Puurs and Liezele.

Hoogstraat 29
B-2870 Puurs
Belgium

www.fortliezele.be