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. Today, the large factory building from 1898 has been replaced by the Aurora apartment complex. Alongside the chimney cap, the director’s villa also reminds us of the old factory (see photos 1 and 2).
Symbol of Industrialization
The chimney cap is a symbol of industrialization in this region. The malt factory was located along the Boxtel–Wezel railway line. This line was part of a fast connection between London, Berlin, and Saint Petersburg. Along this railway, known as the “Duits lijntje” (German line), stood several other factories, such as:
- a brick factory in Oeffelt (photo 3)
- a clog factory in Mill (photo 4)
- the Maas-Buurtspoorweg tram company (photo 5)
- the Dutch Margarine Factory in Goch (photo 6)
- later also the Page paper factory in Gennep (photo 7)
Memories of the Railway
The railway no longer exists. Yet traces of this era remain. Think of the information panels “Gennep Spoorstad” (photo 8) and “Bus-Tram-Trein” (photo 9). Even the dismantled rails on the roundabout refer to this unique railway line.