Editing Brasschaat (section)

===Modern times===
In 1823, Brasschaat became theoretically a municipality of its own, separate from [[Ekeren]].  It named its own mayor and municipal council the following year.  Its independence would, however, be recognized only in 1830.

Because of its strategic position in the defence of the port of [[Antwerp]], Brasschaat became an important military outpost during [[World War I]].  The Brasschaat fort, still visible today, was built in 1912.  Between 1937 and 1939 the fortifications were expanded with additional [[bunker]]s and a large antitank ditch.  Many of these old military buildings nowadays host colonies of bats.

In 1945, a school in Brasschaat run by [[Averbode Abbey]] was hit by a [[V-1 flying bomb]], killing a monk and three priests.

The ancient ''Brexgata'' name is found in the designation of an international university association seated in [[Strasbourg]] (France). The name was chosen in homage to the municipality of Brasschaat; the organisation's historical research project was initiated in this town in 1999.