Fort Sint-Filips on the right bank of the Scheldt near Antwerp has a history dating back to the 16th century.In 1584, Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma and nephew of King Philip II of Spain, ordered the construction of two forts (Fort Saint-Marie on the left bank and Fort Saint-Philippe on the right bank) in order to gain better control over the Scheldt. Bridgeheads in the river were built from both forts. Between the bridgeheads there was a raft bridge consisting of 32 ships with each two small cannons each, the so-called Farnese Bridge, to make it more difficult to supply Antwerp. Despite the efforts of the people of Antwerp to halt construction, the forts were completed on 25 February 1585. The bridge was not shaved for long. On 3 April 1585, Justin of Nassau sailed up the Scheldt and captured Fort Liefkenshoek and the surrounding polders, while the Hope and the Fortune, two warships loaded with explosives, were set off from Antwerp to the Farnese Bridge. The Fortune exploded before its arrival but the blasting of the Hope mad a hole in hthe Farnesebridge.