The former Catala paper mill in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw has a history dating back to the early 19th century. Around 1803, existing watermills along the River Zenne were converted into a paper mill, laying the foundation for what would become one of Belgium’s long-standing paper production sites.

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the factory expanded several times and grew into an important producer of paper, cardboard, and packaging materials. For generations, the mill provided employment to local residents and played a significant role in the region’s industrial development. One of the most recognizable remnants of the site is its distinctive water tower, which still stands as a reminder of the factory’s industrial heritage.

After more than two centuries of operation, paper production came to an end in 2015 when the company went bankrupt. The factory was abandoned, and the buildings gradually fell into disrepair. As a result, the site became a popular destination for urban explorers and photographers, attracted by its vast empty halls and traces of its industrial past.

Today, the former Catala site is being redeveloped into a modern business park. Several historic structures, including the water tower, are being preserved to commemorate the long history of one of Belgium’s oldest paper manufacturing locations.