Zaventem Things to Do

The most recent development of office buildings is going on at the ancient site of the “Tannerie de Saventhem”. The site is divided into two areas with offices in the first phase of work and a possible conference centre and hotel to follow. This project is an example of the regeneration of old industrial sites in Flanders. It integrates the new buildings into the topography. The water of the river “Woluwe” will be cleaned, pollution remedied, and a new public large garden with woodland created. The buildings form a dynamic barrier with a strong image and stand between the highways and the garden.

The Mariadal castle was built on the foundations of an ancient farmstead (15th century). In 1896 baron Emile de Munck bought the farmstead and pulled down the main building. He built the present castle on the ancient sandstone foundation. In 1937 the municipality bought the Mariadal castle and rebuilt it in 1988. Nowadays it is used for cultural activities.

Typical workman’s houses built around 1900. The houses belonged to the factory and were rented to their own workers. Mostly the factories owned also the local cafés and bars and the workers weekly wages were paid out in those bars. No wonder that the factory controlled the lives of many families.

At the turn of the 19th century capitalism knew its reign supreme. Several industrialists built their luxurious villas in and around Zaventem. The picture shows the villa of François Coppin, the founder of the “Tannerie de Saventhem” (leather factory).

The old water mill called “De Losser” or the “Kleine Molen” was built on the river Woluwe. In 1900 the Société Industriel de Caoutchoue (S.I.C.) moved in and the water mill became a rubber factory. Today the factory is deserted and who knows what will happen with this example of industrial archaeology?