Items of the Belgian police force. Collection

Contact Kazerne Dossin Documentation Centre: archives@kazernedossin.eu This collection consists of: the uniform (trousers, belt, jacket and cap) worn by the Mechelen police corps in 1931-1951 (probably the Interbellum); a war-time white helmet worn by the Antwerp police corps; a black helmet worn by the Antwerp police corps from the First World War until 1942; a white helmet worn by the Deurne police corps from 1942 until the 1960s; a cap introduced by the German occupying authorities and worn by the Antwerp police corps in 1940-1944; a file with documents on the Mobile Police Brigade in Mechelen, 1943-1944. The Police museum of the Province of Antwerp was founded by Bob Berden and was inaugurated on 3 October 1989. The main goal of the museum and its exhibit was to present and honor the history of the police corps and gendarmerie in the province of Antwerp. As a result, the staff collected hundreds of items related to this subject, including uniforms, by purchasing them or by obtaining donations. The museum was located in Fort II, one of the fortresses of the defense line around Antwerp, built between 1859 and 1914 to protect the city. Christof Verelst was the museum’s patrimony manager from XXX until 2018 when the museum was liquidated because of construction work at the site. The governing board of the museum then kindly decided to donate several items to Kazerne Dossin.