The North Hageland landscape is bisected by the Demer with its beautiful valley surrounded by the typical iron sandstone hills.
These pronounced hills run roughly from southwest to northeast.
The brown ironstone was used to erect buildings. That is why a large part of our cultural-historical heritage, such as churches, but also houses are partly or completely built from this.
The flat, rock-hard ironstone plates could thus be picked up from the field to build walls and facades of houses.
The real, beautifully hewn building blocks were mined in quarries, some of which are still well recognizable in the landscape.
The quarries fulfilled different functions over the centuries. Not only did they provide ironstone, but they also served as shelters, playgrounds, weapons depots, lookout points and so much more.
They greatly influenced the lives of the Hagelanders and are certainly a piece of heritage to cherish!
The Regional Landscape Noord-Hageland vzw wants to help to reopen these iron sand quarries where possible in order to give the specific fauna and flora opportunities again.
In addition, research is underway into the reuse of the ironstone for the restoration of old buildings.