Buitenmolen, Berendrecht

Buitenmolen is a brick-built stellingmolen — a smock mill raised on a stone base with an encircling stage — standing in Berendrecht, a district of Antwerp that belongs to the Berendrecht-Zandvliet-Lillo area. The mill sits on a low rise known as Westmolengeest along the Zandvlietsesteenweg, and for two centuries it has served as a distinctive landmark in a part of the city otherwise dominated by the industrial scenery of the port of Antwerp.

When was Buitenmolen built?

The mill dates to 1822. It was built by the contractor Jacob Royers, who used bricks brought in from Boom, a town well known at the time for its brickworks. The construction was carried out at the request of the miller Johannes Lambrechts, who needed a sturdier replacement for the mill previously working on the same site.

What stood here before?

Buitenmolen did not rise on empty ground. Three years earlier, an older wooden mill called Oostmolengeest, which had stood on the same Westmolengeest rise, was dismantled and relocated across the border to Woensdrecht in the Netherlands. The new brick structure was meant to be far more durable than its wooden predecessor, better suited to withstand the wind and damp typical of this low-lying, coastal region near the Scheldt estuary.

How did the mill change during the 20th century?

As milling technology modernized, Buitenmolen adapted along with it. In 1936 a diesel engine was installed to drive the millstones, allowing the mill to keep grinding grain even when the wind wasn't cooperating. Operating in this combined wind-and-engine mode, the mill stayed in production until 1947, when milling activity finally came to an end.

What happened to the mill after it closed?

Following its closure, Buitenmolen fell into a long period of decline, gradually losing parts of its structure and machinery to neglect. Its fortunes changed when the baker Antoon Verbraak purchased the mill and committed to restoring it to something closer to its original condition. Restoration work took place in two stages between 1987 and 1996.

Who carried out the restoration?

The main restoration campaign, running from 1989 to 1997, was carried out by the Dutch firm Gebroeders Adriaens of Weert, a company specializing in the reconstruction of historic windmills. The work followed plans drawn up by architect Paul Gevers of Kasterlee. Thanks to this careful rebuild, the mill regained its recognizable profile — a timber-clad cap and sails set atop the solid brick base — and has preserved that appearance ever since, standing as a reminder of the milling trade that once shaped this corner of Antwerp.

Frequently asked questions

Is Buitenmolen still used to grind grain today? These days the mill primarily serves as a heritage site and local landmark; its historic mechanism was preserved through the thorough restoration carried out in the 1980s and 1990s.

Where exactly does the mill stand? On the former Westmolengeest rise along the Zandvlietsesteenweg in Berendrecht, a district of the city of Antwerp.

What type of windmill is it? A stellingmolen — a smock mill mounted on a masonry base with a stage (stelling) from which the miller could reach the sails and machinery.

Why was the earlier mill replaced? The previous wooden mill, Oostmolengeest, was moved to Woensdrecht in the Netherlands, and a sturdier brick mill was built on the vacated site at the request of the local miller.