Keesesmolen, Kasterlee

Keesesmolen is a wooden Kempen-style windmill standing today along Geelsebaan in Kasterlee, a picturesque municipality in Belgium's Antwerp province. Despite looking like a fixed part of the local scenery, the mill's story is really one of repeated relocation — it changed sites three times before settling into its current spot.

Where did the mill originally come from?

The structure predates its association with Kasterlee by centuries — it was originally built in the mid-1600s on the city walls near Antwerp. After roughly two hundred years of service there, it was dismantled and rebuilt further inland, near Heist-op-den-Berg, where it continued grinding grain for another generation of millers. It wasn't until the early 1920s that the mill made its way to Kasterlee, going up in the Heesbergen area along Retsebaan as a replacement for another windmill that had been toppled by a storm.

Where does the name Keesesmolen come from?

The name has nothing to do with the mill's location or function — it comes from a person. Cornelius Van Laer, known locally by the nickname "Kees," was one of the mill's last private owners, and his nickname stuck to the building so firmly that it's still used today, long after the mill left family ownership.

The move to its present location

The windmill was granted protected monument status twice — first in 1943, and again confirmed in September 1954. Around that same time it also underwent structural work: its base was converted into an open-foot design, allowing the mill to resume operation on 13 June 1954. That same year it was moved to its current site on Geelsebaan, where it still stands.

Who looks after the mill today?

Since 2011, Keesesmolen has been owned by the municipality of Kasterlee, which took over responsibility for its upkeep. A major turning point in its recent history came with a thorough restoration completed in 2020, which returned the mill to full working order and restored its present-day appearance. Keesesmolen is classified as a functional standard mill of the Kempen type with an open foot — a design long associated with the Kempen region, where mills of this kind were historically used to grind grain.

Can visitors see the mill?

Keesesmolen forms part of the local windmill route (Molenroute) promoted by Kasterlee's tourism office, making it a point of interest for people exploring the area on foot or by bike. It also stands as an example of how the region's older industrial infrastructure is preserved and presented today as part of its cultural heritage.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Keesesmolen? The mill's original structure dates back to the 17th century, though it has stood in Kasterlee since the 1920s and at its current Geelsebaan site since 1954.

Why is it called Keesesmolen? It's named after Cornelius "Kees" Van Laer, one of its last private owners.

Who owns the mill today? The municipality of Kasterlee has owned it since 2011.

Has the mill been restored recently? Yes, it underwent a complete restoration in 2020.