Asperen

Idyllically situated on the river Linge and surrounded by greenery, it is hard to see at Fort Asperen that it once had a military function. 

Yet it still served in World War II, as part of the Dutch Waterline. The fort has been open to the public since 1984 and numerous interesting cultural events have been organized. 

This tower fort was built in 1845-1847 on the Noorder Lingedijk near the town of Asperen, on the site of the embankment ‘Castor’ dating from 1794. It was used to close the Linge access with its quays and to defend the underlying inundation fan lock. Fort Asperen

 
Some forts are special nature reserves, nature reserves, which are managed by Staatsbosbeheer, Natuurmonumenten or other nature conservation organizations. Fort Hinderdam and Fort Kijkuit are examples of this or the Fort near Rijnauwen, where hundreds of plant species can be found. Many animals also live there, such as ermines, polecats, squirrels, roe deer, reptiles, amphibians and dozens of bird species that breed or are in transit. And in the winter this fort is the domain of bats that hibernate in the buildings. 

Forts are ideal places to stay and hibernate for bats. They like to sit in wall cavities, crevasses and basements, in places where it is dark and quiet,
where it is cool but not too cold and not draughty. There are also sufficient flight openings. Also in Fort Asperen houses bats in the winter, even rare species such as beard, water, bighorn and dwarf bats. Fort Asperen cannot be visited during this period. Too many visitors disturb the bats in their hibernation.