Bakkersmolen

Bakkersmolen is an unusual museum complex in Wildert, a village in the municipality of Essen in the far north of Antwerp province, right on the Belgian-Dutch border. It isn't a centuries-old landmark that survived into the present — it's a fully working brick tower mill built from scratch in 1980-81, surrounded by a bakery, a steam engine museum, and a brasserie.

A brand-new mill built to look old

The story starts with baker Frans Demedts, who wanted his own windmill to grind flour for his bakery. He first tried to buy two existing mills — the Stenen Molen in Brecht and the Buitenmolen in Berendrecht — but neither deal went through. Instead, he bought a two-century-old farmhouse in Wildert, and in 1980 the municipality of Essen granted him permission to build an entirely new mill on the site.

Construction began on 4 June 1980. The mill, 7.40 metres in diameter, was built using more than 280,000 old bricks, giving the structure a much older appearance than its actual age. The design came from architect Lou Jansen of Turnhout, the brickwork was carried out by contractor J. Van den Bleeken, and the rotating milling machinery was installed by Dutch millwrights Jos and Jan Adriaens from Weert. The complex was officially inaugurated on 8 May 1981.

What is there to see?

Bakkersmolen is more than a mill — it's a living museum of old machinery. Behind the mill stands a steam engine museum with machines still in working order, and a narrow-gauge steam train circles the grounds. At the heart of it all is a vintage English Marshall steam traction engine from 1903, rated at 25 horsepower, which powers part of the historic equipment on site.

Next to the mill is a bakery with a wood-fired oven, where visitors can watch traditional bread-making in action, and a brasserie where they can relax after exploring the grounds. This mix of windmill, industrial museum, bakery, and dining makes Bakkersmolen a popular day-trip destination for families on both sides of the Belgian-Dutch border.

Is it still a family-run business?

For more than twenty years the complex was run by Inge Van Elsacker and Frank Danen, experienced hospitality operators from Brecht, who kept the mill, the museum, and the food and drink side running with evident dedication. In 2024, however, they announced they were looking for a successor: after more than two decades, and partly due to age, they decided to close this chapter and hand the site over to someone who could carry on the same level of enthusiasm and care.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bakkersmolen a historic monument? Not in the traditional sense — the mill was only built in 1980-81, though old bricks were used to give it a much older look.

What else can visitors do besides see the mill? Explore the steam engine museum, ride the narrow-gauge steam train, buy wood-oven-baked bread, and eat at the on-site brasserie.

Where exactly is it located? In Wildert, part of the municipality of Essen, right on the Belgian-Dutch border in Antwerp province.