Réduit national
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For the fortifications near Lake Constance, see Réduit national (Switzerland)
The Réduit national (French) or 'De versterkte stelling Antwerpen' (Dutch) was a term given for the collection of strongholds and fortifications encircling the city of Antwerp (Belgium) built in the second half of the 19th century.
In planning the defence of the Kingdom of Belgium, King Léopold I of Belgium, set up a commission in 1859 for evaluating the different projects for the defence of the city of Antwerp. The commission selected H. A. Brialmont's plan.
The basic idea was to pull back the whole government, the administration and the Belgian army behind a ring of fortifications around Antwerp, whenever Belgium was invaded and the capital Brussels was threatened. Hence the name "Reduit national", or "Belgium reduced", given to the area around Antwerp, which was the supply base of the Belgian army with its harbour, arsenals, hospitals and warehouses.
Work on this plan started in 1859 and between 1859 and 1879, a first defence line of 8 brick fortresses was built 5 -7 kilometers distance from the city gates, following the designs of Brialmont.
Between 1870 and 1914, a second line of fortifications was built 10 - 16 kilometers further. This line counted over 30 fortifications and smaller strongholds, all made out of concrete. This line was not finished when war broke out in 1914.
During World War II the defenses were obsolete, one of the forts (Fort Breendonk) gained notoriety as a German prison and transit camp.
