The Flemish government has allocated approximately €100,000 for the restoration of the Arsenal in Dendermonde, East Flanders, as announced by Minister for Heritage Ben Weyts (N-VA) on Sunday.
The Arsenal, located on Zuidlaan in Dendermonde, dates back to 1828 and was part of the Wellington Barrier, a line of fortifications erected in the southern United Kingdom of the Netherlands after Napoleon’s fall. It served as a storage site for artillery, cannonballs, and other munitions as part of Dendermonde’s fortified defences.
Currently owned by property developer Kohezi, the Arsenal is being converted into eleven residential units. The building’s long-term neglect has left it in disrepair, with crumbling masonry, necessitating an extensive restoration estimated at €387,000 in total. Restoration work includes cleaning the façades, repairing masonry and joints, removing non-heritage metal elements, replacing the roof, and renewing the blue stone.
The Flemish government will cover about a quarter of these costs. Minister Weyts emphasised the importance of preserving the Arsenal as rare military heritage, expressing satisfaction that the current owner is keen to revitalise the impressive structure. “The government cannot do everything alone; it is crucial for citizens to also engage with our heritage. We are happy to provide support, as is the case here in Dendermonde,” he added.
