This creative warehouse in Vilvoorde used to be the storehouse of ‘the Société Belge des Explosifs Favier’ for ammunition after the fist world war. It was the idea to reform them to explosives. Therefor the name : De Kruitfabriek. Saturday 31 may 1919 a fire caused the whole plant to explode with enormous damage for the whole surrounding and many deadly victims.
Vilvoorde became during the interbellum one of the most important economic regions of flemish-Brabant with the establishment of cokes plants, leather ateliers, and other businesses.During the recession in the seventies the industry in Vilvoorde took a downfall. In the industrial suburb Broek at the canal, many people lost their job.
In the nineties flemish production house Woestijnvis made it’s home in De Kruitfabriek.
About six years ago the city of Vilvoorde decided to invest in the pand and by that the whole broek area. The idea grew to make the warehouse into a creative hub.
Common garden full of herbs and eatable flowers
Bike repair shop
Mad Tiger Bar
Brunch and vintage market the first Sunday of the month
Aerobics and Yoga at StudioWorld Tree
Art fairs, brunches, after work parties, barbecues, performances, vintage markets, yoga to aerobics and a bike repair shop. It’s seems that there is somewhat to do for everybody. The party never stops at De Kruitfabriek.