Leather route Oisterwijk
Go back with foot soldier Rien to the year 1954 and discover the history of the Oisterwijk Leather Industry. Explore the grounds of the Koninklijke Verenigde Lederfabriek (KVL Leather Factory) in Oisterwijk. Then cycle through this picturesque village to the beautiful countryside of Haaren and Moergestel. On the way you listen to audio fragments in which Rien tells you about his work as an errand boy at the leather factory, but also about his pranks and his dreams.
This 27 kilometer route takes you past places that tell you more about the rich history of the leather industry. Enjoy the beautiful and peaceful nature of the Oisterwijkse Bossen & Vennen, the rippling sound of the Essche Stroom and the fairytale-like Nemerlaer Castle. Cycle past Schoenfabriek Van Bommel (not open to the public) and return to the KVL site via the stores and restaurants on De Lind.
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Go back with foot soldier Rien to the year 1954 and discover the history of the Oisterwijk Leather Industry. Explore the grounds of the Koninklijke Verenigde Lederfabriek (KVL Leather Factory) in Oisterwijk. Then cycle through this picturesque village to the beautiful countryside of Haaren and Moergestel. On the way you listen to audio fragments in which Rien tells you about his work as an errand boy at the leather factory, but also about his pranks and his dreams.
This 27 kilometer route takes you past places that tell you more about the rich history of the leather industry. Enjoy the beautiful and peaceful nature of the Oisterwijkse Bossen & Vennen, the rippling sound of the Essche Stroom and the fairytale-like Nemerlaer Castle. Cycle past Schoenfabriek Van Bommel (not open to the public) and return to the KVL site via the stores and restaurants on De Lind.
Want to know more about the history of Leerfabriek KVL or the tanning process? Then book a guided tour and learn all about the history of this special place. Or look here for more information about the tanning process.
Start your route for example at De Kazerne with a cup of coffee and a delicious sausage roll or pastry by Robèrt van Beckhoven. Along the way you will pass cozy restaurants and terraces - perfect for a tasty stopover!
Click here for the English version.
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KVL fabriek Oisterwijk
Almystraat 145061 PA Oisterwijk
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Audio clip 1 Foot soldier of the KVL factory
Almystraat 14Oisterwijk
Workers' cottages Akkerstraat
Workers cottage AkkerstraatAkkerstraat 5
Oisterwijk
Van Bommel shoe factory (not open to the public)
Oisterwijkseweg 405066 XC Moergestel
Audio clip 3 Van Bommel shoe factory
Oisterwijkseweg 40Moergestel
KVL fabriek Oisterwijk
Almystraat 145061 PA Oisterwijk
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Description
KVL fabriek Oisterwijk
Almystraat 145061 PA Oisterwijk
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It is 1954. The leather factory in Oisterwijk is running at full speed. The work in the factory is hard and dirty. The days are long and the wages low but the solidarity among the workers is great. Often they start working at the leather factory at a young age. So did Rien. He is only 15 and has been working here as an errand boy for six months. Today he will show you around the leather factory and the surroundings.
An errand boy of the leather factory gets everywhere, Rien knows from his own experience. You even get to the management. But when the red light at Director Adler's room is on, he knows it's off-limits. Despite his curiosity, he obeys. Although he does wonder what goes on behind that door....
The factory does a lot for the workers and their families. For example, days out are organized and every year there is a big factory party with a lottery where you can win valuable prizes. A welcome addition to the low wages. Large families live in cramped tenements, but Rien loves his cozy neighborhood. Yet he also dreams of a house of his own.
Today's assignment: you are sent out to bring some samples of leather to Schoenfabriek Van Bommel in Moergestel. Rien decides to take a detour to first show you some special places in the area. From the factory in Oisterwijk you will cycle past Rien's house and the countryside to Nemerlaer Castle in Haaren.
The contrast between the tenement houses in Oisterwijk and Nemerlaer Castle is great. Especially when you consider that now, in the year 1954, the castle has been empty for 60 years because of an eccentric squire who had a quarrel with his family. Rien jokes that he can see himself living here in about ten years.
Close to the castle runs the Essche Stroom. This is heavily polluted by wastewater from the textile factory further upstream in Tilburg and from the leather factory. Hopefully the stream will be cleaned in the future because Rien likes to take a dip. Once he went swimming during working hours in a nearby pond. But his boss found out and it cost him dearly... Duty calls and you have to move on. Via the Oisterwijk woods and fens to Moergestel.
Van Bommel's new factory opened in 1952, so it's just a few years old. Rien is full of admiration for the beautiful factory! At Van Bommel you meet Johan. He is two years older than Rien and a bit more serious. Johan works in the cutting department, but dreams of becoming a buyer for Van Bommel. Then you will earn really good money and get somewhere! Although the wages of the errand boys are a lot lower than Johan's, Rien occasionally earns a little extra. Like the time when director Adler urgently ordered him to bring a package to Amsterdam... Johan didn't seem to mind.
Your assignment is now complete and it is time to return to the leather factory in Oisterwijk. Rien thinks about what the next assignment might be. Delivering the mail? Picking up an order from the bakery perhaps? Hopefully there will be a nice cup of coffee ready. You've earned that, he thinks.
KVL fabriek Oisterwijk
Almystraat 145061 PA Oisterwijk
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