Eben-Emael, the Titanic of Fortresses

Fort Eben-Emael was constructed between '32 and '35 as a defense against German aggression. It was one of the most modern fortresses of its time, but unfortunately designed too much with a WWI mindset. It was stronger than anything constructed by the French in the Maginot line or anything by the Germans in the West Wall.

Deemed impregnable by both the Germans and the Allies, it was incapacited within half an hour following a bold attack on May 10, 1940 by a German elite force using glider planes. Thirty hours later, Eben-Emael surrendered.

The current fortress is exploited by volunteers, some ex-military, that spend every effort to keep the fortress alive. Guides lead you through the 5 km of tunnels during a tour of 2-3 hours (depending on how much questions you ask, or how many stories they tell).

This visit is an absolute must, but carefully check the limited opening times to avoid disappointment.

ID 427 on the Belgian tourist map. In the vicinity is the Eben-Ezer tower. a curiosity well worth visiting.

Antwerp's city museum (MAS)

Antwerp is a world port and a great medieval city that hosted two world exhibitions in the 19th century. When it opened its new city museum in 2011, expectations were high. But considering Antwerp's rich historical and maritime heritage, the 'Museum aan de Stroom (MAS)' could have been a little more.

Still, the MAS merits a visit for the architecture of its building and surroundings and for its panorama. From the collection, the visible storage showing a sample of the museum's 180,000 objects is an interesting idea.

The building, the boulevard, the panorama and visible storage are freely accessible. Up to you whether you want to see the permanent collection.

ID #401 on the Belgian Tourist Map. 

Discovery of dinosaurs

A few weeks ago, we went to the Museum of the Iguanodons in Bernissart. There were not a lot of people in the musuem so we could go around quietly . We were welcomed with ample explanations at the reception. There is a translation text for the panels available in different languages.

The museum is very well organised. It covers mainly the Iguanodons and their discovery in the area. There are many other fossil remains from prehistoric times to admire. In particular, a small collection of petrified trees caught our attention. In summer, you can visit the place nearby where the Iguanodons were found in the 19th century.

A visit takes about an hour. In the main hall you see an authentic skeleton of an iguanodon, explanations on the prehistory, a dinosaur egg, etc. There are 3 additional rooms. Near the entrance there is a small shop.

In Bernissart, coal is mined since 1849. In April 1878, the Iguanodons were found at a depth of 320-350 m. There were 31 complete skeletons as well as 3,000 fossil remains of fish, crocodiles, turtles, ferns and fragments of insects. The remains were particularly well preserved during 130 million years in the clay soil, sealing the skeletons from air and water and protecting them from decay. It took three years to dig up all these fossil remains.

A few facts about dinosaurs

• Iguanodons weighed approximately 5 tons.
• The name dinosaur was only formulated in 1841 by Richard Owen.
• Paleontologists estimate that there were 2,000-3,000 species of dinosaurs, of which currently only 600 are known.
• Dinosaurs were big but not very smart - they had relatively small brains.
• Though there are more than 80 theories about the disappearance of the dinosaurs, still ignore the real reason.
• Mantell, an English scholar found a few teeth from iguanodons and compared them with those of an iguana, hence the name'' iguanodon'' or “tooth of an iguana”. Although scientists subsequently discovered that this interpretation was incorrect, they nevertheless decided to retain the name.

The discovery in Bernissart was particularly important because the 31 whole skeletons of the same species were found for the first time. Before that, scientists had to speculate about dinosaurs on the basis of loose bones and skulls. After Bernissart, they could form a clearer picture of how dinosaurs looked like.

Practical information
You find the museum about a good hour's drive from Brussels, in the Ruelle des Médecins 13, 7320 Bernissart. The museum is open throughout the year. Besides school groups, the museum welcomes about fifteen visitors per day. Bernissart is 15 km from Valenciennes, and is not far from Mons and Tournai. On the way back, you can visit Grand Hornu or Le Pass.

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ID #316 on the Belgian Tourist Map