Molenberg ommetje Knegsel

The first mention in history about Knegsel dates back to 1281. The village was then called "Cneczele". The village was originally located where the Old Cemetery is still located but relocated after 1688, when it was largely destroyed by French army troops.

Residents settled elsewhere, creating hamlets - "corners" - such as Sneidershoek, Driehuis, Den Hoek, Wolfshoek, Nardushoek. In search of fertile land, people settled more in the vicinity of the Rijt brook valley, and the road pattern created a brink, today's village centre. For this reason, Knegsel is also called a brink village, meaning "a plaetse built on three sides".

Traditionally, Knegsel is an agricultural village. Cooperation was necessary, hence a Farmers' Union was established even before 1903. Butter making was one such form of cooperation, and from 1897 a shed, located next to the transformation house, served as a butter factory under the name De Vooruitgang. Around 1917, the small hand-powered dairy transferred to a steam-powered dairy nearby.

Knegsel already had a few taprooms in the 19th century, but a real café near the church came about in 1899, when Johannes Heeren had a café built on the Groen. Café 'in 't Groen' later became café 'Klein Antwerpen' and today it is the house ( het Groen 32 ). For decades, the village square also had a grocery shop ( het Groen 30 ). The village square is now used for village events and under the beautiful lime trees are the Jeu de Boules courts. The square is often the starting and finishing point for cyclists and walkers.

Tomb mounds

On the route are three burial mounds, remnants of the Bronze Age/Iron Age. In such burial mounds, cremation remains of deceased people were kept in an urn. The burial mounds were restored by archaeologists in 1984. Grave mounds indicate that the area was already populated in prehistoric times.

Molenberg

There was already a mill on this site around 1360, where the surrounding farmers were obliged to have their grain ground. The plaque contains historical and architectural data.

Marian chapel

The Marian chapel was built in 1947 out of gratitude, as evidenced by the text above the entrance: "Holy Mary. We give thanks for Your protection in the war and liberation. In the years O.H. 1940-1944".