Klepmolen, Balegem

Klepmolen in Balegem is a brick tower windmill standing along Botteleweg, in a neighborhood once known as "De Kleppe" — the source of its name. Balegem is now a district of the municipality of Oosterzele in East Flanders, and this mill counts among the area's most recognizable landmarks.

Where does the name come from and how did it all start?

The story goes back to the late 18th century. In 1791, miller Jan de Waeghemaeker from Anzegem applied for permission to build a grain mill in Balegem. He was formally refused, though the real reason was self-interest: Charles-Ignace Juste de la Tour-Tassis, who controlled the granting of such permits, already owned mills in the area and had no wish to allow competition. Despite the refusal, de Waeghemaeker eventually secured a charter, on condition that the new mill be operational within a year. What went up was a wooden post mill, a construction type typical of the region at the time.

What happened to that first mill?

The wooden mill changed hands several times over the following century, until it burned down in 1888 as the result of arson. That fire closed the chapter on the original structure and cleared the way for the building that stands on the site today.

How was the current stone mill built?

Just a year after the fire, in 1889, Denis De Meireleire built the brick tower mill still standing here. The new mill was designed with a rotating cap at the top, finished with the mill cap style typical of East Flanders. Inside, three grain millstones were installed alongside a separate oat-milling mechanism, allowing the mill to process more than one type of grain under a single roof.

How did the mill survive into the 21st century?

The building's historical and technical value was formally recognized in 1979, when it was granted protected monument status. A year later, in 1980, ownership passed to the municipality of Oosterzele, which carried out an initial restoration straight away. A far more thorough round of conservation work followed between 2011 and 2012. That project aimed not just at preserving the historic fabric but at restoring the mill's full working order, so its machinery could turn again rather than stand only as a landscape feature.

Why is Klepmolen worth a visit today?

Klepmolen is a mill that, despite a turbulent history — a fight over its very right to exist, and the destruction of its original structure by fire — has been carefully maintained and kept in working condition. For visitors, it's a chance to see a functioning late-19th-century brick tower mill set within the farming landscape typical of the Oosterzele area. The site sits along local hiking and cycling routes that connect several historic mills in the municipality, making it a good starting or midway point for a longer walk or bike ride through Balegem and the surrounding villages.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the name Klepmolen come from? From the neighborhood where it stands, formerly called "De Kleppe."

When was the current mill built? The brick tower dates from 1889, built after the earlier wooden mill burned down in 1888.

Is the mill legally protected? Yes, it has held protected monument status since 1979 and has belonged to the municipality of Oosterzele since 1980.

Can the mill still operate? After a thorough restoration between 2011 and 2012, its machinery was brought back to working condition.