DID YOU KNOW? ~ Waesmeer

Diverse archaeological finds in this area, including Roman wells, remnants of Roman houses, and Gallo-Roman objects, have shown that clay extraction has been taking place in this area for centuries. In 1889, the d'Hemptine family decided to establish a 'brickworks' (Briquetteries de Stekene et de Thielrode) on these foundations. At its peak, more than 40 million bricks were produced per year. In the 1960s, the brick factory became so outdated that it could no longer keep up with the competition and therefore had to close. The deepest clay pit was filled with surplus spray water during the construction of the E17. This created the Waesmeer, a pond of 18 hectares. After being operated for some time as a recreational area, nature can now return to its own pace. The lake is an important wintering site for ducks. Sometimes more than 2000 specimens of the Tufted Duck are found!

LIFE SPARC