Hoosmolen

Hoosmolen is a historic drainage mill standing on the edge of the Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen nature reserve in Drongen, a district of Ghent, Belgium. Despite its windmill-like silhouette, it is actually a poldermolen — a mill that once relied on water power rather than wind, built to regulate water levels across the marshy meadows surrounding the city.

What makes this site significant?

Hoosmolen is considered the oldest documented mill of its kind in the region. It is first mentioned in notarial records dating back to 1316, and historians believe some form of drainage mill may have already existed on the site as early as the 12th century. For centuries, its purpose has been to discharge excess water from the low-lying, waterlogged Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen area into the higher Lys (Leie) river via the Grijtgracht channel.

How has the structure changed over the centuries?

The original mill did not survive the turbulent periods of the region's history. It was rebuilt in 1597 as a wooden, octagonal ground-sail mill. The current masonry structure — the octagonal stone hull still visible today — dates from 1701 and has remained a distinctive landmark in Drongen ever since.

The mill's drive technology also evolved alongside industrial progress. From 1852 onward, part of the drainage work was taken over by a steam engine built by the Ghent firm Van de Kerckhove. In 1897, a newer steam engine from S.A. Le Phoenix was installed, powering an iron centrifugal pump that replaced the traditional scoop wheel previously used to lift water. Modernization continued in 1945, when an electric motor took over the drive, and it is this electric system that still operates the pump today.

Where exactly is it located, and what is its protected status?

Hoosmolen stands at Mahatma Gandhistraat 32 in Ghent, right on the edge of the Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen nature area — one of the most important wetland habitats near the city, popular with birdwatchers and walkers exploring its meadows and waterways. The mill building itself, together with its technical installation and adjoining waterway, was granted legal monument protection on 17 February 1994. Since 13 September 2016, it has also formed part of the protected cultural-historical landscape designation covering Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen, reflecting its importance both as a structure and as part of the surrounding landscape.

What should visitors know before coming here?

Hoosmolen is more than a technical relic — it also serves as a landmark for anyone exploring the Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen reserve. Walking along the surrounding paths, visitors can appreciate how this unassuming building has quietly managed local water levels for more than seven centuries: from the manual and water-driven work of medieval millers, through the steam-powered machinery of the industrial era, to the electric pump that keeps the system running today.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hoosmolen a windmill? No — despite the name suggesting a windmill, it is a water-driven poldermolen built for land drainage rather than for grinding grain.

How old is the site? The earliest records date to 1316, though the current masonry structure was built in 1701.

Is the mill still in operation? The drainage function has been taken over by a modern electric pump installed where the original scoop wheel once stood, so the system continues to serve its original purpose in updated form.

Where exactly can it be found? At Mahatma Gandhistraat 32 in Ghent, on the edge of the Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen nature reserve.