Gansakkermolen, Geel

Gansakkermolen is a wooden post mill dating back to 1797 that, after more than two centuries rooted in the town of Geel, now stands in Puurs-Sint-Amands right along the Scheldt river. This small but strikingly picturesque windmill is one of the last surviving post mills in the region, and the story of how it travelled across Belgium is almost as interesting as the mill itself.

How did a Geel mill end up in Sint-Amands?

Gansakkermolen was built in the late 18th century on Molenstraat in Geel as a grain and malt mill. It was constructed by Gilliam Keersmaeckers, and for decades it served local farmers by grinding grain and preparing malt for nearby breweries. In 1981, the mill was officially listed as a protected monument, a status meant to safeguard it from demolition.

Over time, however, the surroundings of the mill in Geel changed beyond recognition. New buildings gradually rose around the wooden structure, blocking the wind its sails needed to turn. Cut off from open air, the mill fell into disrepair and stood unused, its future uncertain.

A move to a new home

The solution turned out to be relocation. In 2024, the mill was carefully dismantled piece by piece and transported to Puurs-Sint-Amands, where an existing millbelt — an artificial mound traditionally built to give windmills better exposure to wind — was waiting for it. There, the structure was reassembled, recreating its original appearance and mechanism.

The choice of a spot along the Scheldt was no coincidence: the open space along the river offers exactly what the mill lacked in built-up Geel — an unobstructed flow of wind. The mill is now cared for by Kempens Landschap, an organisation dedicated to protecting the region's industrial and landscape heritage.

Can you visit the mill?

Since autumn 2025, Gansakkermolen has been open to the public. Its doors open on the second and fourth Sunday of every month, between 1 PM and 5 PM. The site is looked after by a team of five to six volunteer millers, who not only guide visitors around but also set the sails turning whenever there is enough wind, giving guests a chance to see the mill fully in action.

Frequently asked questions

Has Gansakkermolen always stood in Sint-Amands? No. The mill was built in 1797 in Geel and only moved to Puurs-Sint-Amands in 2024, after dense surrounding construction had cut it off from the wind.

When can you visit the mill? On the second and fourth Sunday of the month, between 1 PM and 5 PM.

Who maintains the mill today? Kempens Landschap, together with a team of local volunteers who keep the mechanism running and occasionally set the sails in motion.

Is the mill still functional? Yes — when wind conditions allow, volunteers turn the sails, though today the mill's main role is educational and touristic rather than industrial grain production.