Ceulenaersmolen

Ceulenaersmolen is a round stone mill standing in Kleit, a village that belongs to the municipality of Maldegem in East Flanders, along the Kleitkalseide road. It is one of those windmill structures that survived not in its complete, original form, but as a testament to successive transformations — the surviving lower section still tells the story of milling in this region.

When was the mill built?

Construction was initiated by Ambrosius Longueville-Mattheeuws, who first worked as a farmer and later became a miller in Maldegem. The mill was erected between 1865 and 1866, using bricks fired from clay dug up locally — a common solution at the time, when transporting building materials over long distances was costly and nearby clay deposits provided a ready-made resource.

Where does the name Ceulenaersmolen come from?

The mill's name comes from the Ceulenaere family, who took over the property in the early 20th century. In 1911 the mill passed to Louis Ceulenaere-Mattheeuws. Two years later it was inherited by Louise Longueville, who sold the property to her half-brother, Cyriel Ceulenaere. From that point on, the mill stayed in the hands of the Ceulenaere family, which is how it came to bear their name.

How did the mill work?

Ceulenaersmolen was a round, stone belt mill of the Belgian type — a circular stone base topped by a rotating cap and sails that ground grain into flour. This design allowed the mill to make efficient use of wind coming from any direction, since only the upper cap and sail mechanism rotated, while the stone body below remained fixed.

What changed during the 20th century?

The mill's later history is one of gradual modernization followed by partial dismantling. In 1924 a gas engine was installed, allowing the mill to operate on both wind power and mechanical drive — a hybrid setup that, at the time, made it possible to keep production going even in calm weather. Just fifteen years later, in 1939, the sail cross and the cap were removed, and the mill's belt drive mechanism was dug out. Four years after that, in 1943, the upper section of the stone structure — the dust floor — was also demolished.

What remains of the mill today?

Despite losing its sails, cap, and topmost floor, the building retains three lower levels: the grain floor, the stone floor, and the meal floor. These surviving sections still make it possible to picture the mill's original working layout, in which grain entered from above, was ground between millstones, and the finished flour collected at the lowest level.

Is the mill legally protected?

Yes — Ceulenaersmolen was granted protected monument status on 9 June 2004. The listing covers the surviving part of the structure as evidence of the region's industrial heritage, even though the mill has not served its original production function for decades.

Frequently asked questions

Does Ceulenaersmolen still have its sails? No. The sails and cap were removed in 1939 and were never rebuilt.

Where exactly is the mill located? In Kleit, part of the municipality of Maldegem, along the Kleitkalseide road.

Who built the mill? Ambrosius Longueville-Mattheeuws, between 1865 and 1866.

Can visitors go inside the mill? The building has been a protected monument since 2004, but access to the interior depends on current arrangements made by the owners and local heritage authorities.