Wijgmaal: Cultural Heritage and Nature Experiences

Wijgmaal combines industrial history, remarkable buildings, and a varied landscape. Those looking for accommodation for a trip focused on culture and nature will find a range of points of interest here: historic traces linked to the Remy company, the neo-Gothic Parish Church of Saint Hadrian, and the Wijgmaalbroek landscape area. Walks, nature observation, and cycling routes can be considered as different focal points when planning your trip.

Industrial History and Striking Buildings

The history of Wijgmaal is closely linked to the Remy food company. Edouard Remy founded the company in 1855 and later provided the necessary capital for the construction of the Parish Church of Saint Hadrian. The neo-Gothic church was built in 1887–1888 to a design by Louis Van Arenberg. It replaced the Chapel of Saint Hadrian at what is now Watermolenplein.

Other buildings also recall the industrial past. The Remy transfer tower in Wijgmaal was built around 1890. Its façade design with arched panels and its heavy cornice define its distinctive appearance. The “Amidonnerie A” building of the Remy starch factory and the Remy silo are protected monuments. The Edouard Remy statue was erected in 2005 as a copy of an original from 1905. The Jezuïetenhof farm complex was put into use by the Jesuits in 1749. This creates a cultural focus for your trip that clearly differs from purely landscape-based experiences.

Wijgmaalbroek: Meadows, Hedges, and Water

Those who want to focus on nature during their stay can explore Wijgmaalbroek. The area owes its natural value to the Dijle and its historic agricultural use. The cultural landscape includes hay meadows, pastures, and a dense network of hedges. Aquatic animals live in the ponds, special butterflies can be found in the hay meadows, and birds can be observed in the surrounding area.

These diverse landscape elements make Wijgmaalbroek a suitable destination for travellers who want to combine a peaceful day in nature with specific observations. The local group Van Wicmale tot Wijgmaal organises nature and historical walks through the village. This allows you to choose between exploring the landscape independently and taking part in a themed walk, without having to consider culture and nature separately.

Getting There and Getting Around Locally

The planned means of transport can also play a role when choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home. At the Wijgmaal railway station Hoppin point, Wijgmaal station is less than a minute’s walk away. Eight Blue-bike public bicycles are available there at the bicycle parking facility on Lijnloperspad. A new connection between Vuntpad and Lijnloperspad also makes it easier to travel between Wilsele and Wijgmaal. This allows you to incorporate cultural destinations, walks, and cycling trips into your days of travel and take your preferred local means of transport into account when choosing your accommodation.

Other Local Pages for Trip Planning

If you would also like to compare other destinations, you can visit these local pages: Rebecq, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Merchtem, Oud-Heverlee, Haacht, Glabbeek, Heverlee and Huldenberg.

For the higher-level travel overview: Brabant.