The history of the paper mill Herisem and former cardboard factory Winderickx (14th - 18th century)

The first big clients of paper in Belgium where cities with administrative town halls. Also the administrative procedures in Brussels became more complex. The landscape around Brussels with his small rivers made that it was a good area for establishing paper mills. The peripheries of Brussels was close to the city center and there where good hydrological conditions to drive the waterwheels.

In the 14th century, history sources indicate that there were several paper mills in the domain of Herisem. In 1536, a new paper mill was built on the location of a former paper mill.

By the end of the 16th century, the history sources don't tell us much about what happens with the mill. This will change in 1763, when the mill comes into the hands of a certain Gillis Winderickx. He is a member of a family of paper makers and is going to invest again in the mill. It will be he, together with his children and grandchildren who will make from this mill the industrial complex that it still is today.

In a first period, before 1848, the paper mill will be expanded from one building to five. In 1848, the big economic crisis slows the paper production down and the new investments were mainly made into the farm...