Poort in Antwerpen, vermoedelijk de Borgerhoutpoort (Kipdorppoort) c. 1870 - 1892

Gustave Hermans made this photograph of the Borgerhoutpoort, a gate in Antwerp, Belgium, sometime after 1864. It shows a formidable structure, complete with battlements and guardhouses, projecting an image of strength and security. This gate was built as part of the Brialmont Fortress, a 19th-century defense system designed to protect Antwerp. Belgium, newly independent in 1830, saw Antwerp as its most important strategic asset. The architecture of the gate, with its imposing scale and traditional design, reflects the conservative values of the Belgian military establishment at the time. It also underscores the perceived need to protect the city from external threats. Examining the history and design of the Borgerhoutpoort through sources such as military archives, urban planning documents, and local historical societies, we can start to understand the social and political anxieties of 19th-century Belgium.