In 1881, a battalion of the 9th Regiment of the Line, led by Major Caneel, landed in this industrial city. It was housed in an unused factory. A few years later, the government purchased a nearby plot of land from the city to establish a permanent barracks. Construction was completed in 1890. At that time, the barracks consisted of three functional buildings, organized around a courtyard and surrounded by a high wall.

In 1934, the barracks were expanded with two new buildings. As a tribute, the entire complex was named after an officer of the 12th ^Line Regiment who fell in Langemarck in September 1918. In 1977, the barracks were expanded for the last time and the oldest buildings were renovated.