Hondzocht Windmill

Hondzocht Windmill (also known as the Moulin de Saintes) is a historic windmill standing in the village of Saintes, part of the municipality of Tubize in Walloon Brabant, Belgium. It rises on a gentle hillock beside the old road linking Halle and Enghien, a position that has long made it a visible landmark across the surrounding farmland.

When was the mill built and where does its name come from?

The windmill was erected in 1775. Its name, Hondzocht, echoes the historical Dutch-language toponymy of this part of Belgium, even though Saintes itself now lies within the French-speaking side of the country — a small linguistic trace of the kind commonly found along Belgium's internal language border.

What role did the mill play during the Battle of Waterloo?

Thanks to its elevated position and unobstructed view over the countryside, the windmill served as a natural observation point. According to local historical tradition, on 18 June 1815 — the day of the Battle of Waterloo — troop movements of the allied forces were directed from this spot. Prince William of Orange is said to have sent orders from Hondzocht to part of the roughly 17,000 soldiers making up the multinational coalition army stationed nearby, drawn from Belgian, Dutch, British, German, Swedish and Russian Cossack regiments. The Duke of Wellington also established one of his secondary headquarters at Hondzocht, making this modest windmill an unexpected but genuine witness to one of the most decisive days in European history.

What happened to the mill in the following centuries?

For generations after its construction, the windmill operated as intended, grinding grain for farms in the surrounding area. Milling activity finally ceased in 1979, as traditional wind-powered mills became commercially unviable in the face of modern grinding technology. Rather than falling into total ruin, the structure survived long enough to become the focus of later preservation efforts.

Can visitors tour the Hondzocht Windmill today?

Following restoration work, the mill has regained its original mechanical function and once again grinds grain when wind conditions allow, much as it did centuries ago. It is open to the public free of charge on the first Sunday of every month, from 10am to 5pm, with a miller on site to guide visitors and explain how the mechanism works. This makes Hondzocht a rare chance to see a working windmill in action, rather than a purely preserved shell.

What does the windmill's architecture look like?

The mill is built of whitewashed brick, giving it a bright, distinctive appearance visible from a distance against the green fields of Walloon Brabant. It is considered one of the better-preserved examples of its type in the Walloon region, where many comparable windmills were lost or demolished over the course of the 20th century. Its cap and sails have been reconstructed in line with the mill's traditional historical form, allowing it to retain its original character.

Who is this site particularly interesting for?

Hondzocht Windmill appeals both to military history enthusiasts tracing the lesser-known episodes of the Waterloo campaign, and to visitors interested in industrial heritage and rural architecture. It offers a quiet, uncrowded stop that pairs naturally with a visit to the Waterloo battlefield itself, located a short distance away, as well as with the other historic windmills scattered across Walloon Brabant.