Nijmegen, Kekerdom, Gendt

There used to be a long row of brick factories along the Waal, stretching from Millingen to Nijmegen. Today, only one is still running, in Gendt. But all around the area, you can still see signs of that rich past. Tall chimneys from old factories, the ruin of a field kiln, and the former house of the “brick boss” from the De Ooij factory. Many of the lakes in the area aren’t natural either. They’re clay pits where river clay was dug up and turned into bricks.

Kekerdom is at the heart of this story. In 1873, a brick factory was built here that stayed active for nearly 150 years. In the early 20th century, many people from Kekerdom worked there. Men, women, and even children, often as whole families. They lived in workers’ houses that were built next to the factory from 1919 onwards. The work was tough. Clay was kneaded by hand, pressed into moulds and fired in field kilns.

The field kiln you’ll pass is a physical reminder of how bricks were made for centuries. The ovens burned for weeks at high temperatures. It was heavy, demanding work. And even though it was essential for construction all over the Netherlands, the “brick oven folk” were often looked down on.

During the Second World War, the factory played an unexpected role. Because it kept running, many men from Kekerdom managed to avoid forced labour under the occupiers. The factory eventually shut down in 1985.

Today, as you cycle on towards Doornenburg and Gendt, where the last active brick factory is still smoking, you’ll ride through a living museum in a beautiful green landscape.