Knokmolen, Ruiselede

Knokmolen is a brick tower mill standing in Ruiselede, in the Belgian province of West Flanders. It takes its name from Knokstraat, the small street that leads to it — a naming pattern common among the traditional windmills of this part of Flanders, where the nearest access road often lent the mill its identity.

Who built the Knokmolen?

The mill was constructed in 1840 by Karel Heyndrickx, an innkeeper from Ruiselede. It wasn't unusual at the time for someone running an inn to also invest in a windmill, since both trades served overlapping customers: farmers bringing grain to be ground, and travelers passing through in need of food or lodging.

What did the mill originally grind?

Knokmolen started out as a combined oil and grain mill, processing both cereal into flour and oilseeds into oil. Its role narrowed to grain milling only from 1940 onward. That transition happened alongside a difficult period for the mill: in April 1940, during the wartime mobilization of then-owner Gerard Billiet, the mill turned in the wrong direction during a violent storm, breaking its sail cross. After returning from military service, Billiet repaired the mill himself, with help from millwright Cyriel de Bels of Meulebeke.

Why has the mill gone by so many names?

Over the years the building has been known under several different names. It was called "Galgemolen," after the nearby site known as "Galgestick," and "Sebastopolmolen," after a now-demolished inn called "Sebastopol." It also carried the names "Spiesschaertszemeulen" and "Billietszemeulen," derived from the surnames of its successive owners. This layering of names is typical of rural Flemish windmills, where local communities often referred to a mill by whoever happened to run it, or by a nearby landmark.

What technical setbacks has the mill survived?

The Knokmolen's history includes a string of structural challenges. In 1912, its wooden axle head suffered serious damage and had to be replaced with an iron one sourced from a mill in Kanegem — a reminder of how millers of the era relied on parts salvaged or transferred from other windmills in the region when replacements were needed. A second major setback came in 1940, when the storm described above broke the mill's sail cross, forcing Billiet into the repair work already mentioned.

What was built alongside the mill in the 20th century?

During the first quarter of the 20th century, a mechanical mill was erected next to the Knokmolen, initially driven by a steam engine and, from 1948, by a diesel motor. That same year, 1948, the mill's original wooden gallery was removed and replaced with a concrete structure — a common modernization for windmills of the period, though one that often came at the expense of some of their original historic character.

What makes Knokmolen stand out among regional windmills?

Knokmolen belongs to a small group of mills that stayed continuously in operation even after their "professional career" as the primary grain-grinding facility for surrounding farms came to an end. That continuity sets it apart from many other windmills in the region, which, once milling became mechanized elsewhere, fell silent for good and were often left to decay or were eventually demolished.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Knokmolen located? The mill stands in Ruiselede, in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, on Knokstraat, the street from which it takes its name.

When was the Knokmolen built? It was built in 1840 at the initiative of Karel Heyndrickx, a local innkeeper.

Did the Knokmolen always grind only grain? No — it started as a combined oil and grain mill, and has been dedicated to grain milling only since 1940.

What other names has this mill carried? It has also been known as Galgemolen, Sebastopolmolen, Spiesschaertszemeulen, and Billietszemeulen.