De Eenhoorn

De Eenhoorn is a historic windmill standing on Scheldelaan in Lillo, part of the Antwerp district of Berendrecht-Zandvliet-Lillo. This stone stellingmolen (a stage mill with an external gallery) once ground grain and today counts among the few surviving windmills near the Port of Antwerp.

Where does the name come from?

The name De Eenhoorn ("The Unicorn") did not originate with the mill itself but with a pharmacy sign. Until 1830, the mill and a drugstore on the Korenmarkt in Antwerp shared the same owner: pharmacist David Gijsen, whose shop displayed the sign "Den Eenhoorn". The pharmacy's name was carried over to the mill and has stuck ever since, even though the two buildings have had nothing else in common for nearly two centuries.

What has the mill lived through?

The mill was built in 1735 at Lillo-Kruisweg. Its history was far from quiet. In 1831 the surrounding area was hit by flooding, which the structure survived without serious damage. The following year, in 1832, the mill was plundered by the Dutch army, a reflection of the tense Belgian-Dutch relations of the period.

Another difficult chapter came during the Second World War. The mill was granted protected monument status in 1943, only to be damaged in 1944, first by British air raids and then by German shellfire. A first post-war restoration followed in 1957, returning the mill to something closer to its earlier appearance.

Why was the mill moved?

The biggest turning point in De Eenhoorn's history was its relocation. In the 1960s, the expansion of the Port of Antwerp required the land the mill stood on. The city of Antwerp purchased the mill in 1966, and demolition actually began on 20 February 1967, ahead of the royal decree formally authorizing the move, which was only issued that August. The mill was dismantled and rebuilt at its present site on Scheldelaan, near the former Degussa chemical works. Its sails turned for the first time at the new location on 10 June 1967.

Is the mill still operational?

Yes. De Eenhoorn, like the Antwerp mill 't Veertje on the left bank of the Scheldt, underwent a further restoration in recent years and was brought back to a state where it can actually grind grain again. That makes it more than a static monument: it is a working windmill, which sets it apart from many preserved mills in the region that survive only as decorative landmarks.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly does the De Eenhoorn windmill stand? On Scheldelaan in Lillo, within the Berendrecht-Zandvliet-Lillo district of the city of Antwerp, close to the port area along the Scheldt river.

What type of mill is it? It is a stone stellingmolen, a round tower mill with an external gallery (the "stelling") from which the miller operated the sails.

Why is it named after a unicorn? Because until 1830 it shared an owner with the "Den Eenhoorn" pharmacy on the Korenmarkt in Antwerp, and inherited that name, despite never having any pharmaceutical function itself.

Has the mill always stood at its current spot in Lillo? Not quite. It was originally erected in 1735 at Lillo-Kruisweg and was only moved to its present site on Scheldelaan in 1967, when the Port of Antwerp expanded into its original location.

Can visitors see the mill working today? Following restoration, the mill is once again capable of grinding grain, making it a living piece of industrial heritage rather than a purely historical curiosity.