Fire damages tower of Kortrijk's old gendarmerie barracks; demolition on the table
A fire struck the ornamental tower of the former rijkswacht barracks in Kortrijk, West Flanders. Public broadcaster VRT NWS reports the turret is damaged badly enough that it may have to be demolished. Cause, timing and any injuries are not yet confirmed.
In 30 seconds
- A fire damaged the ornamental tower of the former rijkswacht barracks in Kortrijk, West Flanders, per VRT NWS.
- VRT NWS reported the tower may have to be demolished ("moet afgebroken worden").
- The cause of the fire is not confirmed in the available reporting.
- No confirmed information on injuries or casualties is available.
A fire damaged the decorative tower (torentje) of the former rijkswacht barracks in Kortrijk, West Flanders. The rijkswacht was Belgium's national gendarmerie until it was merged into the integrated police service in 2001; its former barracks buildings survive in many Belgian cities. VRT NWS, the Flemish public broadcaster, reported that the fire-damaged tower may need to be demolished. Key operational details remain unconfirmed.
Background
The rijkswacht was Belgium's national gendarmerie, a militarised police force disbanded and absorbed into the single integrated police service in 2001. Its former barracks remain scattered across Belgian towns and cities; many have been sold and redeveloped, leaving heritage-era details such as towers and facades that can become structural risks when damaged.
What to do
Residents near the site should heed any local safety cordons or road closures and follow updates from Kortrijk emergency services.
Impact
Regional — The incident is local to Kortrijk in West Flanders, potentially affecting streets and access near the old rijkswachtkazerne and the fate of a landmark tower. The scale of disruption is not yet confirmed in the available reporting.
EvidenceDeveloping · 1 primary source · some details remain unconfirmedExplore evidence →Hide evidence ↑
- Publication date unavailable
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 15 Jul 2026
Continue reading
This story was assembled from verified evidence, with its sources and reasoning recorded as it was written.