Old brick factory in Kekerdom - Kekerdom

The Kekerdom Brickworks was founded in 1873 and was a prominent brickworks in the Kekerdomse Waard. The factory was founded after the purchase of clay-rich land, ideal for brick production.

In 1909, a large ring kiln was built, and in 1911, the company was electrified. From 1919 onwards, workers' houses were built to accommodate the staff. In the 1950s, the factory underwent a modernisation process, introducing innovations such as a mixing excavator and an experimental drying kiln. Between 1956 and 1961, the flame kiln was expanded to a structure 152 metres long and 32 metres wide, consisting of 72 kiln chambers. According to local residents, this was the largest kiln in the world at the time.

The brick factory provided work for many residents of Kekerdom and surrounding villages. In the early years, working conditions were harsh; child labour was common, and workers had to perform physically demanding work under difficult conditions. After the Second World War, conditions gradually improved, partly due to mechanisation and better working conditions. The factory was not only an employer but also a social centre for the community.

In 1984, production was abruptly halted, mainly due to changing market conditions and the emergence of modern building materials. After the closure, the site was taken over by the De Beijer company, which used it for the storage and transhipment of building materials. In 2017, De Beijer left the site, after which it was partially cleared and nature slowly reclaimed the area. Today, the remains of the factory, including the chimney and parts of the hall, are visible in the landscape of the Millingerwaard.