This fort and fort Lillo on the other bank of the river Scheldt dominated the passage of ships to the port of Antwerp, they where build between 1577 and 1583 first to protect the town against the Spanish and when the town was lost, to levy taxes on passing ships.The Dutch used the fort the longest if i recall they lost it twice by war and several times by treaty the last time was 1839 when it was given up to the Belgian state. In 1894 the fort was decommissioned. Then it was used as a hospital (quarantaine) until 1952. After that the navy used it as a depot and small base, they build a watchtower on the embankment. From 1964 to 1973 it was used as a holiday 'camp' for the military and their families. After that it was closed in 1980 it was bought by the town of Beveren. The buildings that are still standing are from 1811 (build by the French, Napoleon, you know) and later, bunkers are from 1917 (build by the Germans), the two gate buildings and the watchtower by the Belgians.