The Four-Way Junctions

The farm De Vierwegenscheden was located at the crossroads of four roads or streets: Karterstraat, Kiewitstraat, Brouwerijstraat, and Minneveldstraat. The building bears the house number 4 on Kiewitstraat. In the 15th century, it was the residence of vineyard keeper Jan Tymerman. Most vineyard keepers were employed by the abbey. The building De Vierwegenscheden was originally the farm of the abbey of Kortenberg. In 1471 there was a blacksmith's shop. In the 17th century, the farm was owned by the De Pauw family. Amandus De Pauw was mayor of Kortenberg from 1639 to 1650. At that time, there was a small brewery. In 1715, Petrus Hensmans and Clara Van Wesembeeck purchased the property. On November 15, 1725, the house came into the hands of Guillaume Gansemans, a notary and clerk. He was married to Maria Hensmans, the daughter of Petrus Hensmans-Van Wesembeeck. The owner beautified the house and converted it into a mansion. In 1746, a fat mill was established here. The Gansemans family disappeared from Kortenberg due to significant financial problems. In the 19th century, the mansion evolved into the farm Schuermans. Lambert-Joseph Schuermans was mayor of Kortenberg from 1830 to 1851. He also had an oil mill in De Vierwegenscheden. His son Justin Schuermans was an alderman of Kortenberg and chairman of the brass band ‘De Eendracht’. In 1858, the farm was expanded with a large barn, which was demolished in 1973. In 1896, Eugène and Camille Schuermans together established the brewery St.-Amand for their mother, the widow Justin Schuermans-Symons. Camille Schuermans became mayor of Kortenberg. Eugène Schuermans was succeeded as brewer by his son Justin Schuermans, who was mayor of Kortenberg from 1953 to 1976. The brewery Schuermans ceased its activities in 1958. In 1973, the brewery buildings along Brouwerijstraat were demolished. Around 1980, Justin Schuermans sold the house to the couple Jacques Bom, who carried out the restoration. De Vierwegenscheden is a farmer's house in traditional sand and brick style with two stories, a gable roof, and a dormer. There is a sandstone round arch door. The later outbuilding was provided with a round arch entrance gate.
Bibliography:

F.MAES. Kortenberg, its abbey, its old residences - Eigen Schoon and De Brabander, 1955, p. 296-297.

F.MAES. De Vierwegenscheden in Kortenberg - Eigen Schoon and De Brabander, 1939, p. 358-368.

H. VANNOPPEN. Kortenberg in the Belle Époque. 1989, p. 70-71.

H. VANNOPPEN. A hundred buildings in Kortenberg, 1991, p. 26-27 (No. 9 De Vierwegenscheden)

H. VANNOPPEN. De Vierwegenscheden or the former brewery Schuermans in Kortenberg - Spotlight on Kortenberg, December 2002.

Gemeente Kortenberg