Heimolen

Heimolen is a wooden post mill standing on Windmolenstraat in Langdorp, part of the city of Aarschot in the Flemish Brabant province of Belgium. It rises on heathland once known as the Trappenschen Berch, now surrounded by land forming part of a nature reserve. It ranks among roughly 130 surviving wooden windmills in Flanders, and its distinguishing feature is that it has never changed location and has never been destroyed by fire or war since it was built.

Who built the mill and when?

The story of Heimolen begins in 1662. That February, the Duke of Aarschot signed a contract with Gilles Vanden Eynde, granting him the right to erect a windmill on heathland belonging to the duchy. Vanden Eynde paid 2,000 guilders for the right to harness the wind and committed to an annual fee thereafter. This arrangement made Heimolen one of the few windmills of its era built and operated by a private individual rather than by a feudal lord or a municipal authority.

What was the mill used for?

From the outset, Heimolen served as a grain mill, grinding wheat and other cereals for local farmers and the residents of Langdorp. It kept this function uninterrupted for centuries, despite the succession of owners and millers who ran it over time.

What happened to the mill over the following centuries?

In 1884, miller Jan-Baptist Van Aelst arrived in Langdorp to take over operation of the Heimolen. The Van Aelst family remained tied to the mill across generations — his great-grandson, Walter Van Aelst, continued the tradition until 1958, when the mill finally ceased operating. After the last miller departed, the building deteriorated rapidly, losing its working function and becoming increasingly vulnerable to the decay of its wooden structure.

Who saved the windmill from ruin?

The turning point came in 1995, when Heimolen passed into the hands of Natuurpunt, a Belgian nature conservation organization. By then the mill required a thorough restoration, as years of neglect had taken a visible toll on its structure. The restoration work was completed in the spring of 1999, and on 21 March 1999 the mill was able to resume grinding grain — for the first time in four decades.

Is the windmill still operating today?

Yes — Heimolen is currently a fully functional windmill, maintained and operated by Natuurpunt. Visitors can watch a working miller in action and see the grinding process carried out much as it was in the 17th century. The surrounding heathland, now part of the wider de Merode landscape park, combines this piece of industrial heritage with a setting of notable natural value.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Heimolen located? On Windmolenstraat in Langdorp, a village that administratively belongs to the city of Aarschot in Flemish Brabant.

How old is this windmill? It was built in 1662 under a contract between the Duke of Aarschot and Gilles Vanden Eynde, making it more than 360 years old.

Does the mill still grind grain? Yes, following its restoration completed in 1999, Heimolen once again functions as an active grain mill.

Who manages the windmill today? Since 1995, it has been owned and managed by the nature conservation organization Natuurpunt.

What makes this windmill unusual? It has never changed location and has never been destroyed by fire or war — a rare survival among historic windmills in the region.