Brickmaking has been a popular industry in the Netherlands since Roman times, but the demand in those days was low. From the 18th century onwards, the demand for bricks increased and hundreds of brickworks were built, including the Koppenwaard brickworks here on the IJssel river. Later on, production became mechanised causing many factories to close down. The site of the Koppenwaard brickworks is now a nature reserve.
River clay
The Koppenwaard brickworks in Lathum was founded in 1885. At that time, there were dozens of brickworks along Gelderland’s rivers – after all, river clay was the main material used in brick production. There were 16 along the stretch of the IJssel between Westervoort and Steenderen alone. Some 750 men and 225 women and children were employed there. Brickmaking offered a lot of employment to the poor rural population. The Koppenwaard produced roof tiles and bricks for the housing market and for paving. The factory had a round kiln which could burn continuously and later acquired a tunnel kiln.
Closure
The increasing urbanisation of the 20th century meant a growing demand for bricks, but increasing mechanisation and increases in scale meant that many brickworks were forced to close. The Koppenwaard stayed open for a long time, but ultimately closed its doors in 1993. Some people wanted to restore the factory and create a nature reserve around it, but at that time, the idea had little support among the population. People saw no need to remember the poverty-stricken times when brickmaking had been at its height. The idea of constructing a recreation area was also met with resistance. People were not keen on the idea of having sand dredgers on their doorsteps for the next decade, nor were they enthusiastic over the transport of filthy sludge that would be required.
Heritage status or demolition?
Natuurmonumenten acquired the Koppenwaard in 2012. This national nature organisation made another attempt to have the building declared a national monument, but without success. In 2008 the building was demolished and the process of converting the factory site into a nature reserve with hiking paths began. The reserve now forms part of the IJsselpoort River Climate Park. Only the metal doors of the tunnel kiln remain as a reminder of the old brickworks that once stood on the site.
