Grote Bentel

Grote Bentel is a historic windmill standing in Turnhout, in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The structure is also known under several other names – Grooten Bentel, Oranjemolen, and Coppensmolen, the latter derived from the surname of one of its former millers. It belongs to the ground-sailor type set on a so-called beltmolen, an artificially raised earthen mound that helped expose the sails to the wind.

When was the mill built?

The mill was constructed in 1847 by Martinus Hoskens. The chosen plot was no coincidence – a standard mill belonging to Turnhout Castle had previously stood on the same site, suggesting the location had long served a grain-milling purpose before Grote Bentel was raised there.

What happened to the mill over the years?

Grote Bentel's history has not been without misfortune. In 1912 a fire destroyed the interior of the building, damaging the milling mechanism and other equipment. Rather than being rebuilt entirely from scratch, the restoration used parts salvaged from another mill, brought in from Dordrecht in the Netherlands. This allowed the mill's functionality to be restored using proven, historic components.

How is the mill protected today?

In 1991, Grote Bentel was officially designated as a protected monument. This listing confirms the historical and architectural value that Belgian heritage authorities attach to the structure.

What is the mill used for now?

Today Grote Bentel no longer serves its original grain-milling purpose – the mill is non-functional for milling. In 1969, architect Lou Jansen converted the interior into his own residence combined with an architectural studio. Since then the building has combined living space with office space, while remaining a witness to the region's earlier windmill history.

Where exactly is Grote Bentel located?

The mill stands within the town of Turnhout, at a site referred to as Oranjemolen – a name used alongside the structure's other designations. Its distinctive position on a raised mound (molenbelt) makes the mill stand out clearly within the surrounding urban landscape.

Frequently asked questions

Can the Grote Bentel windmill be visited inside? The building functions as a private residence and architectural studio, so its interior is not open to the public in the way museum windmills often are.

Where does the name Coppensmolen come from? This alternative name for the mill comes from the surname of one of the millers who once operated a milling business there.

Is the mill still operational and grinding grain? No – Grote Bentel is currently a non-functional mill and no longer serves any grain-milling production purpose.

When was the mill granted protected monument status? The mill received heritage protection as a monument in 1991.