Palace in Meir

In 1859, Belgium decided to concentrate its land defence in Antwerp. The city was converted into a redoubt where the king, the government and a land army could withdraw in anticipation of the arrival of foreign assistance. To this end, ramparts, a belt of fortresses and floodable areas were built around the city. The German army invaded Belgium on 4 August 1914. Two weeks later, King Albert I gave orders for the retreat to Antwerp. The king and his family remained there until the city fell on 10 October 1914. As a result, Antwerp was briefly the capital of Belgium.