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Tongeren

Borgloon

Wijnants-Groenendaels Steam Syrup Factory

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Places to see

Belgium

Flanders

South Limburg

Tongeren

Borgloon

Wijnants-Groenendaels Steam Syrup Factory

Recommended by 73 hikers out of 74

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Location: Borgloon, Tongeren, South Limburg, Flanders, Belgium

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Best Hikes to Wijnants-Groenendaels Steam Syrup Factory

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1. Kuttekoven Village Trails – Meersbeemden Nature Reserve loop from Borgloon

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2. Untitled #158 by Aeneas Wilder – Stroop Factory Borgloon loop from Borgloon

7.09km

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Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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3. Untitled #158 by Aeneas Wilder – Kuttekoven Village Trails loop from Wellen

12.6km

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Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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An 🇧🇪

July 18, 2024

1879

The story of the steam syrup factory began in 1879. That year, the Wynants family bought land on Stationsstraat in Borgloon, where the syrup factory was established. In those years, syrup distilling evolved from a cottage industry to an industrial activity and syrup distilling was commercialized.

1900-1950

Thanks to the rise of steam power, among other things, it was now possible to distill syrup on a larger scale. In the first half of the 20th century, Borgloon grew into the center of syrup production.

1960

But the boom did not last. From 1960 onwards, many syrup distilleries in and around Borgloon started to struggle. The demand for syrup gradually decreased. Ultimately, by the end of the 1970s, only the Wynants syrup factory remained. 1988

However, the situation was no longer tenable and so all syrup distilling activities were also stopped here.

1999

A part of the syrup factory, including the technical installations, was protected as a monument in 1999.

2005

The city council of Borgloon purchased the steam syrup factory to prevent further decay. An agreement was made with the Bleus brothers to once again distill syrup in the syrup factory in a traditional way.

2006-2007

In 2006-2007, the Monumentenstrijd followed on TV channel Canvas. The Loonse syrup factory became the proud winner of this battle. Plans were quickly made to restore the site. A first round of restoration came with the renovation of the Loons square and the restoration of the chimney. 2017

The majority of the restoration started in February 2017. After an intense period of major works, we now have the pleasure of introducing visitors to the restored syrup factory and the fruit experience centre.

Translated by Google •

February 14, 2025

At the end of the 19th century, the industrial processing of fruit into syrup or molasses experienced an explosive development in Borgloon, which is why the city is also called 'the cradle of syrup'. Between 1830 and 1940, the current merged municipality of Borgloon had 120 artisanal 'little syrup distilleries'.

In 1878, Guillaume Wijnants, the son of a fruit merchant, bought land in the Stationsstraat to build his first syrup factory in 1879-1880. In addition to Guillaume Wijnants' factory, a second factory was probably built in 1879 along the Neerlinter-Tongeren fruit railway line, the Wijnants-Groenendaels syrup distillery.

The company expanded in phases and adapted its infrastructure to technical innovations in the periods 1879-1928 and 1947-1974. In 1888, the first steam engine was put into use. In 1898, a warehouse was built, which was expanded in 1912. The original factory building was expanded in 1919 with an office and refectory. At the same time, the chimney was also built.

In 1924, the factory was connected to the Hasselt-Oreye local railway and the site was expanded to the south with a storage cellar, garage and stables. During this period, the company consisted of two buildings.

In 1928, the factory was expanded again with a distribution and packaging area. A canopy was placed above the loading bridge in 1942 to provide shelter when unloading the products.

In 1948, the company was expanded with a cooperage for mechanical woodworking. In 1959, 23 workers worked full-time, during the fruit season this number rose to 50. In the following decades, production declined rapidly until in 1984 only three workers were still working in the factory. In 1988, the company, both the production and filling as well as the sales, were closed down. The factory is still equipped with the complete production line, of which most parts, devices and tools with accessories date from after the Second World War.

Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Stoomstroopfabriek Wijnants-Groenendaels, id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/31824

Translated by Google •

February 14, 2025

In the Wijnants steam syrup factory, the so-called 'sandwich syrup' was produced, more specifically pear, apple, beetroot and mixed syrup. The production process consisted of two phases: seasonal activities and annual activities. Below, the seasonal activities are discussed on the basis of the infrastructure in the factory buildings, on the one hand in and around the building from 1879, on the other hand the building from 1947.

In 2005, the Loon city council bought the old factory to give the site a new purpose that ties in with the prosperous syrup past. Since 2006, syrup has been distilled in the factory again, albeit in a traditional way. In 2007, the steam syrup factory won the first edition of the Flemish Monuments Contest, a television programme on Canvas, during which the site gained national fame.

Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Wijnants-Groenendaels Steam Syrup Factory, id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/31824

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 80 m

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Location: Borgloon, Tongeren, South Limburg, Flanders, Belgium

Wijnants-Groenendaels Steam Syrup Factory

1. Kuttekoven Village Trails – Meersbeemden Nature Reserve loop from Borgloon

2. Untitled #158 by Aeneas Wilder – Stroop Factory Borgloon loop from Borgloon

3. Untitled #158 by Aeneas Wilder – Kuttekoven Village Trails loop from Wellen

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