Available LanguagesLanguage En Klein-Willebroek - Canal locksKlein-Willebroek, a hamlet of the municipalityWillebroek, originated at the original locks of the Willebroek Canal , where it connects to the Rupel dug in 1550-1559. The Willebroek Canal is one of Europe's oldest navigable channels. The original canal was 20 km long, up to 30m wide and 2m deep and connected to Brussels with Willebroek, where it ended at the hamlet Klein-Willebroek in the Rupel. The height difference of 14m between Brussels and the Rupel was overcome by 4 locks. In 1922, the modernized canal south of Klein-Willebroek was completed, linking it more downstream to the Rupel, southeast of Wintam. The old branch, which is now not called Jachthaven Klein-Willebroek (Yacht Harbour Klein-Willebroek) remains suitable for pleasure-boats traffic. The whole site with the mansion house, the lock system (1830-1836) and the drawbridge (1926) is an example of an industrial settlement of the late 19th century, with a neoclassical style director’s house and a factory building that fits into classical design of the civil architecture of the late 19th century. The original lock-keepers house of 1573 was replaced in 1608 by the present fairly monumental (Sasplein, nr 18). In this building, which iss also referred to as the ‘Spanish House’, in 1987 a local history museum was established. On the other side, the 19th century cast iron porch of the disappeared Enschodt-bridge over the Rupel has been re-erected as a monument. It was this bridge the Allied Forces used on September 4, 1944, to liberate Antwerp in a quick action. Hence the British Sherman tank recalling this fact. Striking landmarks are also the the 18th century brewer's house, acquired in 1837 by the Boom brewer ‘s family Lamot. The adjacent brewery, which dates back to 1911, and its malting tower (ca. 1850 were protected as historic monument in 1995. The building is currently serving as an administrative unit of an environmental technology company. The hamlet itself then already was protected as a townscape on 16 November 1981. Gallery:
Typology: Walk Travel time: 3 h Route Difficulty: Easy Places to visit Alternative activities Hotel and Restaurantes Places to visitAlternative activities Hotel and Restaurantes Alternative Activities Boom - Provincial Recreation Area ‘The Schorre’ Rumst - Clay quarries Rumst - The origin of the ‘Rupel’ Rumst - Wienerberger brick works Kortrijk - The former brick and tileworks of Marke Klein-Willebroek - Canal locks Place to visit Noeveren Ecomuseum and Archive of the Boom Bickworks Hemiksem - Gilliot en Roelants Tegelmuseum Terhagen - Brick works museum Rupel clay Niel - Interpretation center of Natuurpunt Boom - Brickworks museum ‘t Geleeg - former Frateur brickwork EXPLORE THE STAGES OF THE ITINERARY Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 1Day 2Day 3 day 1 day 2 day 3 Every dayDay 1Day 2Day 3 Apply