Cycle route The Brick Story of the Waal
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.
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
|
Start: Erlecomsedam , 6576 JT Berg en Dal | 32.7 KM | |
|
From
49
to
67
|
4564 M | 4.6 KM | |
| Head northeast on Erlecomsedam | 4.6 KM | ||
| You are now at section 67 | 0 M | ||
|
From
67
to
95
|
2255 M | 2.3 KM | |
| Head north on Duffeltdijk | 2.2 KM | ||
| Turn left to stay on Duffeltdijk | 78 M | ||
| You are now at section 95 | 0 M | ||
|
From
95
to
71
|
2981 M | 3 KM | |
| Head west | 383 M | ||
| Turn right | 397 M | ||
| Turn left | 1.1 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Klaverland | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 71 | 0 M | ||
|
From
71
to
79
|
854 M | 0.9 KM | |
| Head northwest | 90 M | ||
| Take the ferry Veerdienst Millingerwaard - Doornenburg (Millingerwaard - Doornenburg) | 411 M | ||
| Continue straight onto Veerstoep | 291 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Waaldijk | 62 M | ||
| You are now at section 79 | 0 M | ||
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From
79
to
85
|
2805 M | 2.8 KM | |
| Head southwest on Waaldijk | 2.8 KM | ||
| You are now at section 85 | 0 M | ||
|
From
85
to
97
|
3441 M | 3.4 KM | |
| Head southwest on Waaldijk | 21 M | ||
| Keep right onto Waaldijk | 3.4 KM | ||
| Make a slight left onto Buitenpolder | 27 M | ||
| You are now at section 97 | 0 M | ||
|
From
97
to
25
|
1083 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head northeast on Buitenpolder | 24 M | ||
| Turn left onto Waaldijk | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 25 | 0 M | ||
|
From
25
to
31
|
1760 M | 1.8 KM | |
| Head west on Waaldijk | 1.8 KM | ||
| You are now at section 31 | 0 M | ||
|
From
31
to
33
|
2648 M | 2.6 KM | |
| Head southwest on Waaldijk | 273 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Waaldijk | 2.4 KM | ||
| You are now at section 33 | 0 M | ||
|
From
33
to
34
|
741 M | 0.7 KM | |
| Head south on Waaldijk | 741 M | ||
| You are now at section 34 | 0 M | ||
|
From
34
to
36
|
256 M | 0.3 KM | |
| Head south on Bemmelsedijk | 256 M | ||
| You are now at section 36 | 0 M | ||
|
From
36
to
80
|
766 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head southwest on Bemmelsedijk | 766 M | ||
| You are now at section 80 | 0 M | ||
|
From
80
to
1
|
1726 M | 1.7 KM | |
| Head northeast on Turennesingel | 13 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Turennesingel | 37 M | ||
| Turn left onto Parmasingel | 19 M | ||
| Turn right onto Turennesingel | 134 M | ||
| Turn left onto Sint Titussingel; St. Titussingel | 1.4 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Keizer Traianusplein | 103 M | ||
| Turn left onto Keizer Traianusplein | 65 M | ||
| You are now at section 01 | 0 M | ||
|
From
1
to
2
|
579 M | 0.6 KM | |
| Head west on Sint Jorisstraat | 105 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Kelfkensbos | 156 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Hoogstraat | 43 M | ||
| Turn right onto Voerweg | 275 M | ||
| You are now at section 02 | 0 M | ||
|
From
2
to
16
|
447 M | 0.4 KM | |
| Head north on Voerweg | 447 M | ||
| You are now at section 16 | 0 M | ||
|
From
16
to
48
|
2508 M | 2.5 KM | |
| Head northeast on Ooysedijk | 866 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Ooijse Bandijk | 1.6 KM | ||
| You are now at section 48 | 0 M | ||
|
From
48
to
55
|
538 M | 0.5 KM | |
| Head north on Ooijse Bandijk | 538 M | ||
| You are now at section 55 | 0 M | ||
|
From
55
to
74
|
1154 M | 1.2 KM | |
| Head north on Ooijse Bandijk | 1.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 74 | 0 M | ||
|
From
74
to
50
|
1007 M | 1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Ooijse Bandijk | 225 M | ||
| Make a slight right to stay on Ooijse Bandijk | 782 M | ||
| You are now at section 50 | 0 M | ||
|
From
50
to
49
|
602 M | 0.6 KM | |
| Head southeast on Ooijse Bandijk | 556 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Erlecomsedam | 46 M | ||
| You are now at section 49 | 0 M |