The new Scenography

Immersion in regional history

The scenography offers a dynamic, participatory exploration of regional history. Interactive exhibits offer visitors immersive experiences.

A well-designed outdoor interpretation circuit guides visitors through the various structures that make up the Fort. Built of sand bricks and rising majestically to a height of 27 meters, the Fort is set in the natural landscape of the Flanders dunes.

This strategic position not only offers impressive panoramas of the North Sea, but also panoramic views of the Flemish plain, underlining the region’s crucial role in European history and conflict.

Understanding the Fort

The design of the interpretive tour is intended to provide an in-depth understanding of the historical significance of the Fort and its surroundings. Visitors can explore the different parts of the Fort, discovering its strategic functions, remarkable architecture and the key events that shaped Flanders. This immersive experience allows visitors to gain a better understanding of the past while appreciating the natural beauty that surrounds the fort.

In short, the museum offers an educational and entertaining experience, fusing historical heritage with contemporary innovations to create a memorable and rewarding visit.

6 major themes in 600 m² of permanent exhibition space

The new scenography installed in the troop building features 6 immersive video rooms, models and interactive panels retracing the history of the area from “Turenne to Dynamo”.

6 major themes are discussed:

• Flanders strategic territory: understand the geographical and historical context of the region through the centuries, from the Counts of Flanders through the Battle of the Dunes of 1658 until today.
• The design and challenges of the defensive system imagined by General Séré de Rivières, the fort’s architect, at the end of the 19th century.
• The anatomy and functioning of a military barracks like the Fort des Dunes.
• The Fort des Dunes during the Second World War: an emotional evocation of Operation Dynamo through the highlighting of previously unpublished testimonies from civilians and soldiers.
• The German occupation and local resistance.
• The Fort des Dunes: from military life to a memory site inserted in a protected environment.