Aurora Malt Factory
Before you stands a chimney cap. This is the rotating cap that once sat on the chimney of the Aurora malt factory. In this factory, grain was germinated and dried. That grain was essential for brewing beer. In photo 1 you can see the director’s residence in its current state, with the apartment complex in the background that now stands on the site of the former factory. Besides the chimney cap, the director’s villa also recalls the old factory; see photo 2.
Symbol of Industrialization
The chimney cap is a symbol of industrialisation in this region. The malt factory was located along the Boxtel–Wesel railway line. This line was part of a fast connection between London, Berlin and Saint Petersburg. Along this railway line, the “Duits Lijntje” (German Line), there were several other factories, such as:
- a brick factory in Oeffelt
- a clog factory in Mill
- the Maas–Buurtspoorweg tram company, Spoorstraat 155 in Gennep (see photo 3)
- the Dutch Margarine Factory in Goch
- later also the Page paper factory in Gennep (photo 4)
Memories of the Railway
The railway no longer exists. Yet traces of this era remain. Think of the information panels “Gennep Spoorstad” and “Bus-Tram-Trein”. Even the dismantled rails on the roundabout refer to this unique railway line.