Fort de Suarlée The Fort de Suarlée is one of nine forts built as part of the Fortifications of Namur in the late 19th century in Belgium . It was built between 1888 and 1892 according to the plans of General Henri Alexis Brialmont . Contrasting with the French forts built in the same era by Raymond Adolphe Séré de Rivières , the fort was built exclusively of unreinforced concrete , a new material , rather than masonry . In 1914 the fort was heavily bombarded by German artillery in the Battle of Namur . Suarlée was upgraded in the 1930s to become part of the fortified position of Namur in an attempt to forestall or slow an attack from Germany . It saw action in 1940 during the Battle of Belgium , and was captured by German forces . The fort is presently abandoned on private property . Description . The Fort de Suarlée is located about northwest of the center of Namur . The fort , one of the larger Brialmont forts , is a triangle , similar to the Fort de Boncelles . It commands the Brussels - Namur train line . A deep by ditch encircles the fort . The ditches were defended in enfilade by 57mm guns in casemates resembling counterscarp batteries , firing at shot traps at the other end of the ditch . The principal armament was concentrated in the central massif , closely grouped in a solid mass of concrete . Belgian forts made little provision for the daily needs of their wartime garrisons , locating latrines , showers , kitchens and the morgue in the fort ' s counterscarp , a location that would be untenable in combat . This would have profound effects on the forts ' ability to endure a long assault . The service areas were placed directly opposite the barracks , which opened into the ditch in the rear of the fort ( i . e . , in the face towards Namur ) , with lesser protection than the front and " salient " sides . The Brialmont forts placed a weaker side to the rear to allow for recapture by Belgian forces from the rear , and located the barracks and support facilities on this side , using the rear ditch for light and ventilation of living spaces . In combat heavy shellfire made the rear ditch untenable , and German forces were able to get between the forts and attack them from the rear . The Brialmont forts were designed to be protected from shellfire equaling their heaviest guns : 21 cm . The top of the central massif used of unreinforced concrete , while the caserne walls , judged to be less exposed , used . Under fire , the forts were damaged by 21 cm fire and could not withstand heavier artillery . Armament . Suarlée ' s guns included one twin 15 cm turret , two single 21 cm turrets and two twin 12 cm turrets , all for distant targets . Four 57mm turrets with another nine 57mm guns in embrasures providing defense of the fort ' s ditches and postern . The fort also mounted an observation turret with a searchlight . The fort ' s heavy guns were German , typically Krupp , while the turret mechanisms were from a variety of sources . The fort was provided with signal lights to permit communication with neighboring forts . The guns were fired using black powder rather than smokeless powder , producing choking gas in the confined firing spaces that spread throughout the fort . World War I . In the summer of 1914 the Fort de Suarlée was under the command of Captain - Commandant Moisse , with about 400 artillerymen and 80 fortress troops . The fort was bombarded by invading German forces beginning on 23 August 1914 . The Germans did not bother with infantry assault at the Namur forts as had been tried at Liège , at a heavy cost , preferring to batter the Namur positions with artillery . The Namur forts fell quickly . On the 24th the fort was hit by about 1500 heavy projectiles , causing significant damage . On the 25th Suarlée was hit from the rear by another 1500 210mm , 305mm and 420mm shells , nearly destroying the fort and resulting in its surrender that day . Fortified Position of Namur . Suarlée ' s armament was upgraded in the 1930s to become part of the Fortified Position of Namur , which was planned to deter a German incursion over the nearby border . Protection was substantially increased and armament was modernized . This was accompanied by improvements to ventilation , protection , sanitary facilities , communications and electrical power . The area surrounding the fort was equipped with improved shelters for the interval troops . After its renovation , Suarlée was armed with one twin 75mm turret , four retractable 75mm single turrets , two twin machine gun turrets and a number of observation cloches . Machine guns provided close protection . Ventilation was provided by an air inlet tower outside the perimeter of the fort that doubled as an observation post . Six anti - aircraft guns were installed as well . It served as the instruction battery for the Namur area forts . Second World War . The Fort de Suarlée in May 1940 was commanded by Captain - Commandant Tislair with about 250 men . The fort was attacked from the air on the 10th , 11th and 12th . Aerial attack resumed on the 15th , together with firing from German anti - tank guns . On the 16th Suarlée supported the Fort de Marchovelette with artillery fire . Suarlée ' s ventilation tower was attacked by infantry on the 16th and 17th . The main fort was attacked by infantry on the night of the 17th . On the 18th there was another aerial attack , knocking out four 75mm guns and the machine gun turret . More bombardment followed on the 19th , and the fort surrendered . Present . The Fort de Suarlée is on private property , formerly leased from the state for hunting , and is not open to the public , although it is unsecured . It has been stripped of all salvageable materials . The air gallery is flooded . It was never repaired or rehabilitated after World War II .