The Gempemolen walk

A junction walk along the pond and the watermill of Gempe and through the Troostemberg forest in counterclockwise 238-237-235-236-59-237.

Gempe originated at the crossroads of the old roads between Leuven, Diest and Halen. Around this crossroads, about halfway between Leuven and Diest and between Tienen and Aarschot, a bustling center arose in the Middle Ages with an inn (the 'de Drie Heringe'), a brewery, a water mill (nowadays called the Gempemolen) and a blacksmith shop. A little further towards Leuven, the travellers had to brave a soggy hollow road. The hamlet was an ideal place to spend the night, rest the horses and have the equipment repaired. The connecting roads in the late Middle Ages were nothing like today. The name 'Gempe' is said to be of Celtic origin and means 'confluence'. Four large streams flow together: the Sassenbeek, the Molenbeek, the Wingebeek and the Kraaiwinkelbeek.

The bed of the Molenbeek was laid higher up in the valley so that a mill with a higher decay and overhead wheel could be built; The 3 raised streams were connected to the reservoirs that were built in front of a mill dike. The 3 streams together have a flow rate in the summer period that is not always sufficient to power the mill: savings ponds offered a solution for this.

The Gempemolen was bought by a brewery in 1991 and received a thorough refurbishment. The mill house is now a tavern.

Departure: hiking junction 238
End: walking junction 237

Parking: behind the tavern Gempemolen