Zwijndrecht between forts, hiking trails and cultural heritage

Zwijndrecht combines historic defensive structures, a variety of hiking trails, protected buildings and distinctive landscapes. If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home for your stay, you can already take your preferred type of trip into account when choosing the location: should the history of the forts and the monuments be the main focus, or would you like to combine hiking routes, waterscapes and a pilgrimage?

Discover forts and protected buildings

A prominent historic destination is Fort Zwijndrecht. The 38-hectare fort belongs to the inner ring of forts around Antwerp and was built between 1870 and 1882. Its construction history has some special features: Fort Zwijndrecht never received concrete gun turrets. It was also the first fort in which the oval redoubt was replaced by an elongated infantry barracks and an adjoining officers' building. These details give the visit a specific historical focus, without requiring you to limit yourself to a general tour of fortifications.

Religious and residential architecture also form part of the local character. The Church of the Holy Cross Elevation is a protected monument; this protection has been in place since 9 June 1976. Tassijnshuis Manor is also protected as a monument. The Church of the Holy Cross is also a starting point for several routes. This allows travellers interested in architectural history, local history and religious traditions to incorporate different themes into their daily itinerary.

Hiking trails of different lengths

The “In het spoor van Martinus” route is 8 km long and begins at Neuzenbergbos. The Halfmaan Route covers 11 km, is marked as a red route and starts at the Church of the Holy Cross. Another option is the Vlietbosroute, which begins at the Church of the Holy Cross in the centre of Zwijndrecht. The different trail lengths help you organise your outings according to your preferred amount of time for the day, without having to commit to just one way of exploring the area.

The Halfmaan Route is where natural and military history come together particularly clearly. Half Maan is a redoubt built around 1870 and part of the defensive ring around Antwerp. The site is located along the road and dyke that linked the forts of Kruibeke and Zwijndrecht with Fort Sint-Marie. Half Maan also includes a fishing pond, a small bridge reflected in the water and diverse plant life. The Defensieve Dijk near Zwijndrecht was part of the Verschansten Kamp Linkeroever, which was built between 1870 and 1880.

Waterscapes and religious trails

Blokkersdijk is located in the bird protection area “De Kuifeend en de Blokkersdijk”. There you will find a shallow, nutrient-rich body of water surrounded by a wide belt of reeds. This landscape provides a distinct accent alongside the forts and built-up areas of Zwijndrecht. If you would like to combine historic destinations with open landscapes, Blokkersdijk is one of the individual themes to include in your trip planning.

Religious traditions are also part of the local profile. The pilgrimage to Heilige Machutus takes place on Whit Monday. In addition, the Vlaamse Martinusroute is a pilgrimage route that leads through Zwijndrecht and Burcht to Beveren. The “In het spoor van Martinus” route refers to the same name, but at 8 km it remains a separate, clearly named trail.

Choose the right accommodation for your plans

Zwijndrecht has a railway station. This is a specific point of reference if you also want to take your arrival and planned outings into account when searching for accommodation. When choosing your holiday apartment or holiday home, consider what you want your trip to focus on: the historic forts and monuments lead to a different daily itinerary than the hiking trails, Blokkersdijk or the religious routes.

For more ideas in the area, you can also look at Laakdal, Duffel, Wommelgem, Zoersel, Beerse, Hoogstraten, Turnhout and Ravels.

For the overarching travel overview: Province of Antwerp.