Allekerkemolen

Allekerkemolen is a brick windmill tower standing in Sijsele, part of the municipality of Damme, along the Antwerpse Heirweg in the district known as Allekerke, east of the "Den Doorn" area, on a farm plot facing the Vijverhof. Though it no longer carries sails or a cap, its solid brick tower remains a distinctive landmark in this stretch of West Flemish countryside and a witness to centuries of local milling history.

How did this site's story begin?

The current stone tower is not the first mill to occupy this spot. Around 1632-1633, a wooden post mill was erected here — one of several mills built in Sijsele as part of the area's growing agricultural economy in the 17th century, used for grinding grain for local farmers. That early wooden structure did not last in peace for long: on December 23, 1683, it was set on fire by French troops, a fate shared by many rural buildings caught up in the armed conflicts that repeatedly swept through the territory of present-day Belgium during that era.

Where did a replacement mill come from?

Around 1700, a new structure appeared on the site of the burned mill — the Kattemolen, previously standing at the Smedenvest in Bruges and owned by the millers' guild of that city, was relocated here. Moving an entire wooden mill structure between locations was a practice of the time: building a mill from scratch was costly, while an existing wooden construction could be dismantled and re-erected elsewhere at lower expense.

Where does the brick tower seen today come from?

The brick structure visible today dates from 1873, and it is this tower that survives as the "romp" — the remaining shell of what was once a complete windmill. The site is also known by the names "Oudeakkermolen" or "Roelsmolen," after the milling families who operated it across subsequent decades, processing grain into flour for surrounding farms.

When did the mill stop working, and what happened to it?

The mill remained an active grain-processing operation until roughly 1929. After that, its functional parts were gradually removed: the sails came down in 1937, and the cap crowning the tower was taken off in October 1941. From that point on, only the brick tower remained, stripped of the machinery that once turned grain into flour.

What role did the mill play during the Second World War?

Stripped of its sails and cap, the tower found an unexpected new use during World War II. Owing to its height and position, German soldiers — and later Flemish collaborators — used it as an observation post. The tower was fitted with a direct telephone line to the Maldegem-Sijsele railway, allowing rapid reporting on movement along that important transport route.

What can visitors see at the site today?

Today, Allekerkemolen stands primarily as a historic brick tower — a witness to several centuries of shifting function, from working grain mill, to wartime observation post, to present-day heritage site. It sits on a farm plot amid the typical rural landscape of the region, close to the Vijverhof. For anyone interested in Flemish milling history or the industrial architecture of past centuries, it's a worthwhile stop while exploring the wider Damme and Bruges area.

Frequently asked questions

Does the mill still have its sails? No — the sails were removed in 1937, and the cap followed in 1941. Only the brick tower remains standing today.

Where does the name Allekerkemolen come from? The name refers to the Allekerke district of Sijsele, where the mill is located. It is also known as Oudeakkermolen or Roelsmolen, after the families who operated it.

How old is the current structure? The brick tower seen today dates from 1873, though a mill has stood on this site since around 1632-1633, originally as a wooden post mill.

Can visitors go inside the mill? The site sits on a private farm plot opposite the Vijverhof — it's worth checking current access conditions locally before visiting.