Fort Eben-Emael
Fort Eben-Emael
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
338 reviews
Excellent
258
Very good
71
Average
7
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Ed B
2 contributions
Feb 2019 • Business
An excellent visit, the fort is an amazing achievement but only lasted a very short time under attack. The layout, the history, the innovation, the capability and potential were expertly conveyed by our guide Willy. The only disappointment (which is a time and space issue nothing to do with the fort or the guide) was we only got to see 20% of the fort in 2 1/2 hours. I will be going back to see the rest!
Written February 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Ed B,
Thank you for the great rating and your lovely comments.We hope to see you again.
Written May 27, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lorna B
Gloucester, UK37 contributions
Feb 2019 • Business
Great visit this afternoon to Fort Eben-Emael. Knowing only a small bit of information about the Fort before visiting; the guided tour was fantastic. Informative and powerfully interesting in a very understated place. Willy, our guide was a font of knowledge and a pleasure to listen to; with a very welcoming demeanour. He was able to take you to a place back in history with ease and assist you in appreciating what people went through. Clearly thoroughly enjoys his job and is passionate about it - which shines through in his presentation which he does so well.
Such a shame we had to cut it short to leave but definitely some well spent hours were had there today!
Such a shame we had to cut it short to leave but definitely some well spent hours were had there today!
Written February 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear lornas585,
Thank you for visit and sharing this great rating. Kind regards
Written May 27, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
twinmomks
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia8 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
We just did the tour knowing that there would not be an English speaking guide. There were some guides that did speak English but, We didn't get one. That was a real bummer.. Our guide was very long winded about what he was telling us about and the tour took the longest of any of the other group.. he did speak some English but only told us what he was discussing 3 times.. While we did understand a good but we would like to have seen more of how the men lived. The rooms they slept in and the everyday living, like the kitchens or were they ate. But, this could have all be destroyed so that might not have been possible... We had been to the maginot line where they did go into these details.. Still it was an excellent tour and very interesting to see. We were excited to see the guns and was well worth the climb. The staff were super nice but ,I would have liked one of the other guides we had chatted with before we were all split into groups.Be prepared at the end of the tour as our guide asked for money and you could not pass him and leave without the donation. I would recommend the tour for anyone interested in military history.. my Teens love to learn all things about WW1 and WW2
Written June 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Twinmonks,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. I am sorry to hear that you were a little bit disappointed about your guide but still enjoyed the tour. I can assure you that we constantly try to improve and are thankful for any feedback and suggestions. It would be a pleasure to welcome you back again at Fort Eben-Emael ... and thanks for the 5 star rating.
Written July 10, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TomundJo
Victoria, Canada14 contributions
Sep 2017 • Friends
Fantastic tour of a very interesting Fort. What a great history lesson for the whole family. All of the tour guides are extremely friendly, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and helpful.our tour was about one and a half hours, with an additional self guided tour for another hour or so. A really great day out!
Written October 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear TomundJo,
Thank you for sharing your feedback and for the friendly words to our tour guides.
Written October 5, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Koen D
Herent, Belgium7 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
Having been taught about the Fort at Eben-Emael in school many years ago, it was a place that I have always wanted to see.
One can visit the site on weekends, with the tours leaving at specific times, so you need to check beforehand on their website. They offers guided tours in Dutch and French, my understanding is that English is not always available. Best to check beforehand. We took the Guided tour in Dutch.
The guide gave an excellent overview of the layout of the Fort, its history and the tragic events on the May 9th and 10th of 1940 when German special forces invaded the Fort.
It is important to know that in the (very long) underground corridors, there is a constant temperature of about 10°C (50°F), so you best bring a warm sweater.
If you're into history (of the second world war) then this is most definitely a place you want to see.
One can visit the site on weekends, with the tours leaving at specific times, so you need to check beforehand on their website. They offers guided tours in Dutch and French, my understanding is that English is not always available. Best to check beforehand. We took the Guided tour in Dutch.
The guide gave an excellent overview of the layout of the Fort, its history and the tragic events on the May 9th and 10th of 1940 when German special forces invaded the Fort.
It is important to know that in the (very long) underground corridors, there is a constant temperature of about 10°C (50°F), so you best bring a warm sweater.
If you're into history (of the second world war) then this is most definitely a place you want to see.
Written August 10, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Koen D,
Many thanks for you great review and your valuable advice concerning the temperature in our underground corridors (approx. 5km or 3,1 mi). Guided tours in English are organised during our opening days at the end of every month (not in the 3 winter months) and after reservation (please check our website for these monthly opening days).
For history lovers: the attack on fort Eben-Emael marks tragically the beginning of the Second World War for Western-Europe.
Written August 12, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Warren C
Salisbury, UK259 contributions
Jun 2016 • Friends
I am not going to go into the story of this place, that is why God invented Wikipedia. But it's a good idea to do a modicum of homework before going to make the most of your visit. Beware - the inside of the Fort, which is very interesting and well worth a look around, is only open for a day or two each month - check out their website for details. Parking is just by the entrance to the Fort and is free. We went on a work 'team-building' experience and had a great day first going round the inside of the fort with a very experienced and informative guide and then taking ourselves for a tour of the surface.
The surface tour (free to walk round) is worth it alone and you follow the path up to the top just to the left of the casemate at the entrance. A quick stop or two for a breather may be in order as it goes up for quite a way. WHATEVER YOU DO, get a map online, put it in a waterproof sleeve and take it with you because if you don't you could well miss things as it is more than a little overgrown in places. The 'bigger-picture' view beside the observation dome looking out over the Albert Canal enables you to see just why this event happened here and put things into perspective really well.
You may also wish to wear trousers unless you intend to stick to the main paths as the grass can be very tall in places, ticks etc.
Make sure you look round and on top of the cupolas, there is a story to tell and see at each one. This truly was one, if not the main, card that knocked all the others down all the way to the withdrawal at Dunkirk later that year.
Don't forget to move on from the Fort just a few miles and see the bridge at Kanne, where the Belgians put up a fierce resistance, there is their cemetery and a memorial to see (on top of a bunker) but you have to go looking for it (Tiendenberg). Keep going to the top of the hill for a magnificent view over the whole panorama and another memorial to an RAF bomber crew.
A lot to see, take in and ponder.
The surface tour (free to walk round) is worth it alone and you follow the path up to the top just to the left of the casemate at the entrance. A quick stop or two for a breather may be in order as it goes up for quite a way. WHATEVER YOU DO, get a map online, put it in a waterproof sleeve and take it with you because if you don't you could well miss things as it is more than a little overgrown in places. The 'bigger-picture' view beside the observation dome looking out over the Albert Canal enables you to see just why this event happened here and put things into perspective really well.
You may also wish to wear trousers unless you intend to stick to the main paths as the grass can be very tall in places, ticks etc.
Make sure you look round and on top of the cupolas, there is a story to tell and see at each one. This truly was one, if not the main, card that knocked all the others down all the way to the withdrawal at Dunkirk later that year.
Don't forget to move on from the Fort just a few miles and see the bridge at Kanne, where the Belgians put up a fierce resistance, there is their cemetery and a memorial to see (on top of a bunker) but you have to go looking for it (Tiendenberg). Keep going to the top of the hill for a magnificent view over the whole panorama and another memorial to an RAF bomber crew.
A lot to see, take in and ponder.
Written August 29, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Warren C,
Thank you for visit and sharing your feedback.
Also thanks for the useful tips for the other visitors.
Written August 30, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jason N
Oahu, HI100 contributions
May 2015 • Friends
We visited the Fort during the middle of May during a re-enactment when the fort fell to the Germans. At first glance it seems unimpressive, the bells and whistles however lie on the backside and inside the fort itself. The fort is several football fields in size. There are lots of stairs and narrow stairways, so be prepared for that. Inside you will find a virtually untouched time capsule of history. The tour was just short of three hours. The re-enactment was impressive as well although a little light on pyrotechnics. Overall it was a great visit that was well worth the time and countless stairs.
Written May 31, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris T
Calne, England, United Kingdom38 contributions
Apr 2015 • Family
Our guide Gerard took us through what seemed like miles of tunnels around this amazing maze of linked gun positions overlooking the Albert Canal. The story of how crack German airborne troops defeated the fort using gliders to assault it from above is remarkable and breath taking. Today the interior of the fort has been fully restored and is a wonderful memorial to those Belgian troops that lost their lives defending it. Highly recommended, particularly if you enjoy your WW2 history!
Written April 23, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonatenner
Halstead, UK106 contributions
The Belgians built this fort in the 1920s and 1930s to stop the resurgent Germany using the Maas valley as a short cut to sweeping into Flanders, the Channel ports and Paris. Fixed guns could be used to shower German forces with high explosive anti personnel shells, giving the French a vital 2 days to mobilise and backstop the Belgian forces with a counter attack. The fort was state of the art, with lifts, air filtration, fresh water, barracks, barbers, cinema and kitchens. The Wehrmacht landed gliders on the top, then used shaped charges to disable the guns- the fort surrendered in less than an hour!
The fort is excellently preserved, and at 8 Euros very good value for money. There are clean toilets, a cafe and guided tours in French, German and English. The guides are all volunteers and are able to answer complex questions about over pressure and the Monroe effect in English. You will need at least a morning, but a whole day if you explore the surrounding woods and Albert Canal with their maze of bunkers and pill boxes. If you are fascinated by WW2, Eben Emael is a must. Carefully check the opening hours online to avoid disappointment- don't just turn up. Be German, be organised! (that's how they took the fort, by rigorously preparing with captured forts in the recently ceded Sudetenland bunkers!) Subterranen militaria doesn't get much better than this.
The fort is excellently preserved, and at 8 Euros very good value for money. There are clean toilets, a cafe and guided tours in French, German and English. The guides are all volunteers and are able to answer complex questions about over pressure and the Monroe effect in English. You will need at least a morning, but a whole day if you explore the surrounding woods and Albert Canal with their maze of bunkers and pill boxes. If you are fascinated by WW2, Eben Emael is a must. Carefully check the opening hours online to avoid disappointment- don't just turn up. Be German, be organised! (that's how they took the fort, by rigorously preparing with captured forts in the recently ceded Sudetenland bunkers!) Subterranen militaria doesn't get much better than this.
Written December 21, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deborah C
San Francisco, CA13 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
The fort may be a bit out of the way, but I absolutely recommend booking a private tour ahead of time and making your way there. Our guide was Johann--an ex-military volunteer who is engaging, passionate, and highly knowledgable about history. If you have any doubt about the meaning of "Generals fight the last battle," this tour will forever illuminate that foolish principle. The fort itself is a wonder, with dank tunnels--you can even see fog in them--that are seemingly unending, recreated rooms, and a climb to the gun cupolas that you will not forget. But don't even try to explain the fort to your friends--they won't be able to comprehend what you've seen.
Written September 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yves V
22 contributions
Is het mogelijk om bij een gids aan te sluiten want we zijn maar met twee. Is het fort ook open in februari?
Fort-Eben-Emael
Eben-Emael, Belgium3 contributions
Excuses voor de late reactie, maar de vraag was ons ontgaan.
In februari kan het fort enkel bezocht worden mits voorafgaandelijke reservatie. Eine maart gaan we terug open volgens het normale ritme. Ik raad je aan om een 14 dagen voor de datum dat je het fort wil bezoeken een mail te sturen naar secretariat@fort-eben-emael.be. Dan kijkt onze coördinator of je kunt aansluiten bij een groep. Je vindt tevens alle informatie op onze website. Graag tot in het fort.
Bisio77
Bologna, Italy22 contributions
Non riesco a capire bene quali sono i giorni d'apertura al pubblico, chi mi può aiutare?
Fort-Eben-Emael
Eben-Emael, Belgium3 contributions
Hello. Every month there are 1 or 2 open days, where the fort is open the entire day. The underground barracks and the museum can then be visited without a guide. The following open day is July 21 and then August 24. The guided tour (English / German / French / Dutch) takes you to the 5 km long gallery system and an artillery bunker. Moreover, the fort can be visited every weekend with a guide at 1 pm. There are then guided tours in French, Dutch and briefly in English. The fort is managed by volunteers who do it completely free of charge.
Which are the possibilities to get a tour for a family in mid-February?
Fort-Eben-Emael
Eben-Emael, Belgium3 contributions
Hello,
During the winter months, only visits by reservation are possible. You can reserve via our website
hinckly
Las Vegas1 contribution
How far is Fort Eben-Emael from Brussels, where is the nearest train stations?
Fort-Eben-Emael
Eben-Emael, Belgium3 contributions
Sorry for the late answer. Holiday, etc ...
From Brussels take the train to Liège and then to Visé. In Visé you can take a bus (company TEC) to the bus station of Bassenge (TEC company - busline 16). From there take the bus 101 to the small village of Eben-Emael.
The itinerary will take approx. 1 hour.
more info : website of infotec.be
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