Mastenbos

Just outside the municipal borders - between Kapellenbos and Putte - lies the Mastenbos. Various lines and fortifications were built across this beautiful forest to defend the northern side of the Antwerp Fortress. It all started with the construction of a large belt of armoured forts. One of them, Fort Ertbrand, is located near the Mastenbos. Although the fort cannot be visited, its story forms a crucial part of world war history.

The German attack in 1914 triggered a range of tactical activities and troop movements. First, Belgian troops took up positions between the various forts, by digging the first series of trenches and causing immense destruction to clear the fields of fire. A few years later, the German occupiers felt vulnerable to the risk of the English and French armies violating Dutch neutrality to attack them from behind. To counter this risk, an extensive belt of shelters and trenches was built. Almost all the remains disappeared over the years, but in the Mastenbos, one of the longest range of bunkers from the First World War, surrounded by the typical trenches, still stands strong. Parts of it were reused by Belgian units at the start of the Second World War, behind the anti-tank ditch that had since been constructed. Later, the liberation of Kalmthout was strongly delayed in this zone, but after the end of the war, the owners were able to use the terrain freely again and nature could take its course.

The beauty of the forest and the watery wonders are the perfect setting for the captivating stories of the guide. Documents, plans and testimonies that were recently found in lost archives take you back to the past as if it were today.

Please note: This tour is only availabale in Dutch and French.