In Wijgmaal, you’ll encounter three distinct themes: the Remy heritage, the neo-Gothic Parish Church of Saint Adrian and the cultural landscape of Wijgmaalbroek. This gives you both architectural and industrial history, as well as opportunities to observe nature, when planning your trip. You can choose what to focus on depending on whether architecture, industrial heritage or the landscape is your priority.
Remy heritage and industrial history
The food company Remy was founded in 1855 by Edouard Remy. The industrialist from Wijgmaal, Edouard Remy, also provided the necessary capital to build the Parish Church of Saint Adrian. His name is therefore associated with both the company’s history and the construction of the church.
The industrial heritage includes several distinct landmarks. Built around 1890, the Remy transfer tower stands out for its arched panels on the façade and a heavy cornice. The Amidonnerie A building at the Remy starch factory and the Remy silo are protected monuments. The statue of Edouard Remy in Wijgmaal was installed in 2005 as a copy of an original from 1905. The two dates refer to different events: the original dates from 1905, while the copy was installed in 2005. Together, these examples show different aspects of industrial history: architectural details, protected factory buildings and a statue.
The church and other historical layers
The Parish Church of Saint Adrian is neo-Gothic and was built in 1887–1888 to a design by Louis Van Arenberg. It replaced the Chapel of Saint Adrian on what is now Watermolenplein. The former chapel and the later church therefore represent two distinct stages in the area’s architectural history.
Another historical trace leads to the Jezuïetenhof farm complex, which the Jesuits began using in 1749. The farm complex, the church and the Remy landmarks offer different points of reference in Wijgmaal’s history. The connection between Remy and the church is also concrete: Edouard Remy provided the necessary capital for its construction.
Wijgmaalbroek: meadows, hedgerows and water
Wijgmaalbroek owes its natural value to the Dijle river and its historic agricultural use. This cultural landscape includes hay meadows, pastures and a dense network of hedgerows. There are also ponds with aquatic animals. The hay meadows are home to special butterflies, and birds can be found in the surrounding area. These details point to different landscape features and groups of animals: water, open meadows and hedgerows all form part of the picture, as do animal sightings. Nature lovers will therefore find more to explore than just one type of wildlife.
Getting around and choosing accommodation
There are both rail and cycling options to consider when planning your routes. The Wijgmaal station Hoppin point is less than a minute’s walk from Wijgmaal railway station. The bicycle parking facility on Lijnloperspad has eight Blue-bike city bikes available. Check whether bikes are available before setting off.
A new connection between Vuntpad and Lijnloperspad makes it easier to cycle between Wilsele and Wijgmaal. The cycling connection and the short walk refer to different sections: the walk describes the route between the Hoppin point and the station, while the cycling connection is for travelling between the two places. Check the information about the station and bikes before your trip.
When looking for a holiday rental, you can first decide whether you’d like your stay to focus more on Remy heritage and church architecture or on the landscape and wildlife. If being close to the station is important to your plans, check the property’s location in relation to Wijgmaal railway station.
Discover more destinations: Overijse, Wemmel, Vilvoorde, Chastre, Rotselaar, Ramillies, Kortenberg, Mont-Saint-Guibert.
View the full travel guide: Brabant.
