The surviving remains of the Forges de Clabecq consist mainly of a remarkable metal structure: blast furnace no. 2, dating from 1909, the preservation of which has aroused keen interest from a heritage point of view. Other outbuildings and small masonry elements survive in places, but most of the former steel complex was demolished as part of the redevelopment of the brownfield site. Blast furnace no. 2 is particularly noteworthy, being the last of its kind in Belgium (or indeed in Europe) to have a Staelher-type inclined-plane hoist, giving it a unique character and remarkable historical value.
As for the future of this metal structure, there is a real desire to preserve it as a symbolic witness to the Clabecq steelmaking epic and, more broadly, to Wallonia's industrial heritage. However, blast furnace 2 has long been threatened with demolition as a result of major conversion projects on the site. Heritage associations and local players continue to campaign for its preservation and enhancement, but at the time of the latest available reports, no definitive reuse or museum rehabilitation project had yet been officially decided. The site as a whole is earmarked for extensive urban redevelopment, including the creation of an eco-neighbourhood, and the conservation of certain emblematic remains is still under discussion.
Source: https://patrimoineindustriel.be/fr/publications/actualite/+les-forges-de-clabecq
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