Redevelopment of the area

The disaster wiped out a large part of Roombeek. Of course, this area had to be redeveloped. The local government had great trouble coming to terms with this task. A competition was called to select an architect for the design of a reconstruction plan. According to the program of the competition, anything left standing could to be torn down.
The winner of the competition, architect Pi de Bruijn, thought differently. He integrated the history of Roombeek in his design. For instance he suggested the restoration of an old crane of the Thole machine factory and he left the path of the old railroadtrack in place, making it the backbone of the area once again.

The reconstruction plan brought two drastic changes to Roombeek. Around the place of the fireworks depot, a park was planned, with a monument on the site of the depot. Second: the area would become a 'normal' residential area. Both Thole and Grolsch found a new location at the edge of the city, some other companies left aswell. For some of the remaining textile factories, it is hard to find a new use. Some (Menko, Tetem) are being renovated into appartment buildings. Rozendaal will house an art gallery.

All in all the old fabric of Roombeek survives in the new plans. Like the official monument, it is part of the area's collective memory.