The Voorde
Where the Oude Haachtsesteenweg now crosses the Woluwelaan lay for centuries the Voorde: a ford where the Woluwe could be crossed on foot. All traffic had to cross the river here, so the roads from both banks met at this point. A bridge, probably wooden, is mentioned as early as 1394; after 1600 a stone bridge was built, but the name Voorde stayed. Around the crossing grew one of Diegem's oldest settlements. The Voorde was also the border between Cuddegem and Diedegem; locally it lay 'between Somers and the sisters' convent'.
A toll for the church
The people of Diegem had been granted privileges by the dukes of Brabant and for a long time refused to contribute to the upkeep of the Brussels-Mechelen road. They offered to maintain the road themselves if they could levy a toll at the Voorde. On 18 November 1517 Emperor Charles allowed the road to be paved 'from one hilltop to the other'. A loaded wagon paid 5 groats; members of the Council of Brabant, courtiers and students of Paris and Leuven passed free.
On 24 July 1530 the notables, on behalf of the whole village, gave their rights to the paved road to the church of Diegem. From then on the church collected the toll and had to maintain the road; the toll was farmed out, in 1706 for instance to Jan Broes. Until the French Revolution the toll appeared in the church accounts. In 1838 the 'route de Bruxelles à Haeght' came under the provincial government, and in 1847 it was laid down that the Diegem toll gate had to stand on the bridge over the Woluwe.
Inns and the stone cross
For centuries there were inns by the bridge. 'Den Rooden Scilt' was opened by Henricus van Ertynghen, a Brussels innkeeper who in 1478 also owned the Hofmolen and the Poeselmolen. Close by stood 'De Zwaan' (The Swan), the last house north of the Woluwe before the bridge, already mentioned around 1340-1400. Nearby were also the farm 'Den Horen', on the corner of the Broekstraat, and in 1594 the smithy of Hendrick de la Gruse.
Near the Voorde was also the Cruyswegh, a crossing of five main roads, mentioned as early as 1269. A calvary with a bluestone cross stood there, but it was removed at the request of the carters. When the Schoevaerts house (Haachtsesteenweg 18) was built, the stone cross was placed on top of its façade, where it still stands.
A road with many names
The name Haachtsesteenweg is fairly recent. From the 14th century the lower part was called the Voorde, in 1469 the Pueselstrate, in 1606 the road from Brussels to Mechelen and in 1846 the road from Brussels to Kampenhout. On 1 September 1890 the first steam tram ran from Haacht to Schaerbeek, and a tram depot was built along the road; the tram disappeared in 1962. For centuries the road curved around the De Reine castle estate. In 1973 the new Haachtsesteenweg was laid in a straight line; the old curved section remained as the Oude Haachtsesteenweg.