Editing Ath (section)

===1501–present===
In 1667, Ath was conquered in a single day by the army of [[Louis XIV]] and became the first [[France|French]] city of the [[Spanish Netherlands]].  Soon after, [[Vauban]] built new fortifications, which included eight bastions. The city suffered again at the hands of the French army in 1745. At the end of the 18th century, Ath counted about 7,300 inhabitants but the population count decreased in the first half of the 19th century.

In 1816, two military engineering surveys concluded that Ath defences should be improved, the British survey recommended a garrison of 3,000 troops and the building cost would be £143,599. The Dutch wished to spend an additional £266,000. The [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]] agreed to the Dutch plan. The funding was paid for by England (30%), Holland (30%) and by French war reparations (40%).<ref>{{cite book |last=Porter |first=Maj Gen Whitworth |title=History of the Corps of Royal Engineers Vol I |year=1889 |publisher=The Institution of Royal Engineers |location=Chatham}}</ref>{{rp|388}} In 1824, the [[Dutch people|Dutch]] under King [[William I of the Netherlands|William I]], built the Féron Fort, and the city once more gained strategic value.

A treaty drafted in London on 15 November 1831,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VW9bAAAAQAAJ&q=ath+fortress+demolished&pg=RA1-PR8 |title=State Papers|year=1832}}</ref>  which the Netherlands refused to sign, was followed by the [[Treaty of London (1839)]], which created the [[Kingdom of Belgium]]. Part of the terms of the treaty required the fort, amongst others, to be dismantled.

The freed up land assisted the town for the activities of a growing population.  A new growth period took place between 1850 and 1914 driven by the forestry, agricultural (breweries, mills) and textile industries.

In the 20th century, most of these industries went into decline and were replaced by commercial, administrative and educational activities. In the last 30 years, several neighbourhoods have been revitalized and developed, and the city's monuments renovated or restored.