Fort Beneden Lent, Nijmegen, Netherlands

Fort Beneden Lent was built in 1862 to protect the city of Nijmegen and the railway bridge over river Waal.

Castles and fortifications in Netherlands

User Reviews

Willem Verbeek (2 years ago)
Zaterdag 8 september 2018 kom ik geheel toevallig op het juiste moment bij Fort Beneden Lent terecht. Na vandaag zal dat namelijk niet meer kunnen. Een van de vier nog aanwezige bewoners vertelt me dat het vandaag zal worden ontruimd. Volgens de gemeente is het hier niet meer veilig omdat er nog bommen uit de Tweede Wereldoorlog zouden liggen in de ondertussen drooggevallen grachten. Volgens de bewoners is dat de grootste flauwekul, de gemeente probeert hen hier alleen maar zo snel mogelijk weg te krijgen. Zij zou grootse plannen hebben met dit stukje Lent. Al 40 jaar lang kom ik hier regelmatig langs, soms hardlopend, af en toe met de auto, vaak met de racefiets, het laatste jaar met mijn Flyer e-bike, meestal op weg naar Slijk-Ewijk en de fijne, heldere plas vlakbij waar je heerlijk kunt zwemmen en snorkelen. Het Fort heeft in de loop van al die jaren behoorlijk wat gedaantewisselingen ondergaan en diverse soorten bewoners gekend. Op de een of andere manier was het altijd een soort van vrijplaats waar kunstenaars, artiesten, krakers ongestoord hun eigen gang konden gaan. Vandaag vlieg ik over de brug langs het spoor naar Lent, bij de trappen naar beneden waar de nieuwe Waaleilanden en de drie oevers liggen, over de dijk richting Oosterhout. Al van ver zie ik rondom Fort Lent grote hekken staan, het lijkt wel of alles is afgezet. Ik ga kijken, kan nog naar binnen. Links bij de ingang nog steeds de bekende tuin met allerlei rare, mooie en lelijke objecten. Hij is ook vanaf de dijk zichtbaar, ziet er nog verzorgd en onderhouden uit. Ik fiets over de brug, in de gracht staat vrijwel geen water meer, overal resten van bomen en takken. Ik ga door de tunnel met het bekende en beroemde opschrift: Lent of hope and Glory. Er zijn nog vier bewoners, zij wachten op de ontruiming, ze denken dat het er vandaag niet van gaat komen. Toch zijn sommigen al wel bezig met het verzamelen van spullen die ze in ieder geval willen meenemen. Ze hebben mazzel dat de politie zelf ook volop bezig is met acties en stakingen vanwege de te hoge werkdruk en voor beter loon. Misschien hebben ze zodoende nog een paar dagen de tijd. Wie zal het zeggen? Ik wens hen veel sterkte en geluk. Wat de gemeente verder van plan is met deze locatie zal de tijd ons leren. Ik maak nog wat foto’s hier en daar nu het nog kan en vervolg mijn vliegtocht richting Oosterhout. Ook daar liggen nog veel van mijn herinneringen uit opwindende, onstuimige maar ook sportieve tijden. Daarover meer een volgende keer.

Harold Bighouse (2 years ago)
Leuk fort!

Zaim Prosic (2 years ago)
that was ok

Ron Moes (2 years ago)
Leuke plek, zou binnen het kader van cultuur een betere bestemming verdienen. Ook al gun ik de huidige mensen hun stekkie wel.

Theo Fleuren (3 years ago)
Met een open dag eindelijk dit "krakers" fort kunnen bezoeken ,moet wel opgeknapt worden....wel mooi om in rond te lopen

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