Our Weaving History

Discover Our Weaving History

Weaving Museum Geldrop

Even before the year 1700 the ‘lakennijverheid’ (broadcloth industry) flourished in Geldrop. Even so, the textile industry only started booming in the year 1850. The great factories, chimneys and labourer and stately homes were built in this period. Some of these have been converted to restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious meal. The large houses at the Heuvel, in the Kerkstraat and at the Langstraat in Geldrop still show the opulence of the manufacturers. And there are many more places that will take you back to that time.

The sheep, which you can still see grazing, naturally were the suppliers of wool. Wool that was spun by the home weavers’ women, who in their turn wove sheets on a self-built weaving loom. Afterwards, these weavers walked with their sheets over the Cotton path to Geldrop to sell to the manufacturers there. Manufacturers had also built their own drinking room, so the weavers could spend their earnings right away.

The current street names, state monuments and other places of interest invite you to experience this colourful history in the cosy towns of today. Everything is seamlessly woven with each other.

Experience it by visiting the Weaving Museum, walking the textile route, discovering the of the Cotton path or enjoying a delicious meal at one of the atmospheric restaurants. While you’re at it, book one of the unique package arrangements which you cannot experience elsewhere in the Netherlands.

Cotton Path

The Cotton Path lay somewhere between Mierlo and Geldrop. The path disappeared because not a single home weaver dared to walk it anymore. It was said to be haunted… Do you dare walk it? Buy the book, download the exciting Cotton Path app, discover more about the secret and walk the newly constructed path yourself.

Discover the route

Textile Route Geldrop

Geldrop-Mierlo has created a special textile route for the culture-lovers, but also if you’re crazy about fabrics and everything that has to do with the textile industry. A special route that takes you back to olden times via eight historical points. Download the route now.

Download the route

Curious to find out more about our rich history in the textile industry?

Visit the Weaving Museum

A Weaver’s story from 1792
A Weaver’s story from 1792

It is Tuesday, September 4th, 1792. Josina van Coll, the widow of Martinus Versandvoort, lays nearly 29 el of linen on the ‘bleek’...
Textile Manufacturers Geldrop
Textile Manufacturers Geldrop

Adrianus van den Heuvel (1794-1854) was the founder of the industrial production of textiles.
The Sagebien Water Wheel
The Sagebien Water Wheel

In 1820, the Sagebien Water Wheel was incorporated as a fulling mill into the woollen fabric factory of the Van den Heuvel & Eijcken company. Willem van den Heuvel continued the company in 1851, which later became a family company.
Het machinaal
Het machinaal

The Langstraat was known in the 19th century as the "Sneivelstrutje" (juniper street), which says enough about the drinking at that time.

Spanish Workers at Pessers Textile Factory
Spanish Workers at Pessers Textile Factory

The story of José Diaz, who came to Geldrop from Spain in 1963 to work in the Pessers’ textile factory.
Textile in Mierlo: De Haes
Textile in Mierlo: De Haes

In 1916, the De Haes brothers bought land on the Brugstraat in Mierlo to build a weaving mill. Production started in the same year.
The Story of Piet Stoop (1937)
The Story of Piet Stoop (1937)

"My father always said: if you go to work somewhere, don't take too long, because if you work everywhere, you learn something everywhere."
Founding of the Boerenleenbank Geldrop
Founding of the Boerenleenbank Geldrop

The current Rabobank Geldrop-Heeze-Sterksel was the first Boerenleenbank in the Netherlands (1).