History

Constructed in the sand dunes of Ostend between 1811 and 1814, Fort Napoleon was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte to protect the harbour from an anticipated British attack. Ironically, the British assault never materialised, and the stronghold has since served as military barracks, a German headquarters in both World Wars, and a cultural centre.

Construction and the Napoleonic Era
In May 1810, Napoleon Bonaparte visited the Southern Netherlands (present-day Belgium) and ordered the construction of defensive strongholds along the coast.

Built by Spanish prisoners of war and local workers, the Fort Napoleon was designed in a unique pentagonal layout. It was originally armed with 36 cannons and 10 mortars, staffed by 141 soldiers, and cleverly camouflaged to look like a natural sand dune from a distance.

However, following Napoleon’s defeat in 1815, French forces withdrew, and the British took over the fort, renaming it Fort William and incorporating it into the Wellington Line.

The World Wars
By the 20th century, the fort’s original coastal defence purpose had diminished, but it took on new strategic roles during the world conflicts:

• World War I: The fort was used as accommodation for the German military headquarters, and can still be seen decorated with murals painted by German soldier Heinrich Otto Pieper.
• World War II: It served as a German artillery headquarters during the occupation of Belgium.
  Restoration and Modern Era
• After World War II, the imposing brick structure was briefly used as a children’s playground and a museum before falling into a state of decay. In 1995, the Flemish Heritage Foundation took over the site, and following a massive five-year restoration program, the fort reopened to the public in April 2000. Today, visitors can explore the Fort Napoleon Museum to walk through the vaulted catacombs, learn about its centuries of history, and enjoy panoramic views of the coastline.

Paranormal

During our site visit we had many words through our Hexcom, a black mass appeared in a tunnel and our equipment went off. A coldness and temperature drops around the fort. Join us to explore the fort and the paranormal, never investigated before, be the first.