Fort Breendonk Concentration Camp, Belgium
We planned a halt at Fort Breendonk while on our way to Atomium. It was a good opportunity for me to see the concentration camp of the Germans. Breendonk was a waiting camp designed to receive Jews and political prisoners before their transfer to Germany. The first prisoners arrived on September 20th, 1940.
Initially the conditions of life were very difficult but still tolerable. But after the German troops invaded Russia (June 1941), the German guards were reinforced by Belgian guards and the treatment was inhuman. The lack of food became so severe that several prisoners tried to eat grass. Executions by hanging or shooting were common.
Fort Breendonk Concentration Camp Brussels Belgium
[Please note: This post may contain affiliate links which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link on this post. This will be at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links help me keep this website up and running. Thanks for your support!]
From what I read, the prisoners had to live in bunkers built of concrete which were always very cold and damp. They were provided only two sanitary tubs for over twenty prisoners. Medical care was deficient. The regime was worse than in most other Nazi camps because the number of prisoners to keep watch on and to harass was small.
Inmates were mostly – Jews, political prisoners, resistance members, hostages. Tortures, beltings, hangings and shootings were common in Breendonk. It is unsure how many prisoners died or were killed in Breendonk but recent research estimates their number at about 300.
Concentration Camp in Belgium
The fort is open throughout the year except on two days, Jan 1st and Dec 25th. Since my daughters had covered World War lessons in their History subjects, I thought it a great opportunity to show them the concentration camp.
We reached the fort and to our disappointment then, found it closed. None the sites we referred mentioned its closure. As we stood at the closed gate the official there came out to inform us that it has been closed for maintenance for three days. “You could have called up once before coming”, he said. He sounded a little surprised when he came to know we were tourists from India.
Disappointed we strolled around the place for a while. We saw some statues, one was The Political Prisoner (1947) by Idel Ianchelevici, I am not sure what the other statue represented. Please let me know in comment box if you are aware.
The Political Prisoner (1947) by Idel Ianchelevici at Breendonk
How to reach Breendonk: If you don’t have a car look up the bus timetable for bus route 460 leaving from central Brussels, a distance of 38.2 km. Runs every hour there and back, only 45 min journey.
Sculpture in Breendonk
Fort Breendonk Tourism Information
Address: Brandstraat 57, 2830 Willebroek, Belgium
Google Coordinates: 51.05651553321059, 4.341324653971889
Other names: SS-Auffanglager Breendonk
Timings: Open everyday 9.30 AM to 5,30 PM
Tickets: Adults, 19 years and above – 11 Euros, Ages 6 to 18 – 9 Euros.
Time required: 2 hours
Things to Do near Breendonk
Atomium is located 20 km south of Breendonk. Brussels Atomium Entry Ticket with Free Design Museum Ticket
Antwerp is 20.3 km north of Breendonk.
Conclusion
Later seeing the pictures of the torture rooms, the cells, the isolation cells, the wooden barracks, the yard, the shower room and latrines, the torture chamber, the execution ground in the Breendonk concentration camp in websites I felt it was okay to miss it.
When I saw the Thursday Challenge theme: DISTANT (Things Photographed from Far Away), I was reminded how I got the photograph of this fort from far away!
Pin this for later
When we visit such places with intense history behind, we can feel sadness, tears and cry of prisoners brought here.
A part of history that witnessed torture. I don't whether to say good you missed or should I say 'bad luck'.
Nonetheless, a good capture.
Wow… this is a great way for your kids to learn.. you know each time I hear/read the word concentration camps, I am reminded of the movie Casablanca… still brings me to tears, that movie 🙁
A silent witness to the cruelty of man…
Good that you were not able to enter it.. I would not ever want to visit such a place.
What a majestic fort.
you gave a bit of history class today ! nice post as usual ! 🙂
Proves that if we want something, we'll get it even from far away! 🙂 Great you managed the pics, Indrani 🙂 Nice to know about Belgium. Wanna visit!
Wow….its so good to see something on Belgium where I had been for years. Refreshing memories
a sad and painful era in history of not just Europe but the whole world.
I remember seeing this place on the Brussels bus tour. But did not go inside since it was closed I guess (for 1st Jan). Concentration Camps, WW2 and their history is something that we can keep reading/seeing and never get bored of! But at the same time, heart wrenching too!
The tortures of the past can haunt us even today and so it kind of was good to miss it but then it would have been a real educational visit for your kidos.
I'm glad you were able to at least see this much. Such a rough time in history but must never be forgotten.
Thank you for your visit and comment on my 'distant' post.
~Lindy
Places such as this are sad reminders of how cruel humans can be to one another. True, this is a part of history, but we should never forget that every day around the world humans continue to torture others.
Tragic time in history. Good shots.
I have never been there and certainly won't go !
Somber part of history.GOOD PHOTO8
Awful place, nice enough to photographed though.
World War II: Reminder of the torture and inhuman treatment of prisoners in German concentration camps !
Hari OM
Worthwhile visit – a far memory but one never to be forgotten… YAM xx
These facts can definitely come in handy when you get to visit such places. 🙂
very interesting place! nice post.
I love this place!
went there last year!
What a grim place. Sad you didn't get to tour it. You did get a distant photo though.
Violet N.
Sad indeed …
I saw newsreels of all of this sort of thing when I was a very young girl and remember having nightmares about it.
It's too bad the fort was closed when you got there, but it has such a horrific history that I'm not sure I would be eager to go there.
Interesting piece of history.
a very somber part of history.