Antwerp - Het Steen

A fortress had been built here just after the first Viking raids, to control the access to the Scheldt river. It was known under the name "Burcht", but the name changed to "Het Steen" (steen = stone) after a rebuilding under Charles V (born 1500 in nearby Ghent). Between 1303 and 1827 the fortress was mainly used as a prison. During the 19th century most buildings got demolished. The surviving parts got restored and now host a museum.