Social housing on Hoogstraat and Bergstraat

Between 2000 and 2004, this part of the working-class neighborhood, the Grecht, was renovated, and social housing and apartments were built. When the textile factory of Persy was established around 1870 and the larger breweries expanded, there was a need for workers who could be housed not too far from their workplace. Persy ensured the construction of these new streets and had workers' houses built. Brewer Tielemans also invested in housing. The comfort left much to be desired, and the neighborhood deteriorated.

When nearly 400 houses in Aarschot went up in flames at the beginning of World War I, the Grecht was largely spared. The reconstruction plans were conceived on a grand scale. In 1919, Royal Commissioner F. André stated: “Aarschot is called to great expansion due to the exploitation of the coal mining area of the Kempen. From now on, I have already laid out new districts (..) The workers' neighborhood is in a miserable condition; I will demolish it, but first and foremost, a new workers' neighborhood will be built in the midst of gardens.”

The plans provided for the workers to move to a garden suburb on the outskirts of the city, and the Grecht would become a beautiful, green place for clerical staff. The garden suburb was established in 1922, but not everyone could afford the rent. The Grecht persisted and became the blight of Aarschot. It was only 80 years later that the renovation finally began.

Jan Rymenams