The Trammeke (Westerlo)

The Trammeke on the Lange Brug op het Riet is an old, unique mobile dam on the Grote Nete, built in 1874. With the Trammeke, the water level of the Grote Nete could be regulated so that agriculture on the adjacent fields was possible and the meadows could be irrigated to have two hay jobs per year. After all, the water from the Nete brought fertile silt. At the same time, the castle pond could also be filled and rinsed with a diving system. The Trammeke was also useful for the transport of iron ore on the Grote Nete. The Trammeke ensured a sufficiently high water level. The boats were pulled upstream by boat pullers or by horses. With the emergence of fertilizer, the irrigation system lost its usefulness. The lock or weir system is still largely intact. It was classified as an industrial archaeological monument in 1999.

Jan Rymenams