Lijstermolen

Lijstermolen is a wooden post mill (staakmolen) standing today on the Rodeberg hill in Westouter, part of the municipality of Heuvelland in Belgium. Although closely associated with this spot on the West Flemish hills, the mill's story actually began somewhere else entirely — and the journey it took before reaching its current home is just as interesting as the structure itself.

Where does the name Lijstermolen come from?

The mill takes its name from the place where it was originally built: Lijsterhoek in Beernem, a small town in East Flanders. It was there, between 1801 and 1805, that millwrights Jan Hoste of Moerkerke, Jan Adams of Kruishoutem, and Marcel Caem of Deinze constructed the mill that would go on to serve local farmers for a century and a half.

How long did the mill operate at its original site?

Lijstermolen remained in the hands of the Van Haecke family, descendants of the original builder, until 1957. The mill itself was actively grinding grain until 1947, after which it fell out of use, though the structure remained standing at its original location in Beernem for another decade.

Why was the mill moved to Westouter?

In 1955, the Provincial Committee for Monuments and Landscapes of West Flanders began reaching out to municipalities interested in rescuing historic windmills by relocating them. Mayor Emiel Hardeman of Westouter answered the call, and in 1957 the municipality purchased the mill for 20,000 Belgian francs. Between 1958 and 1960, it was carefully reconstructed using traditional methods on the Rodeberg hill. The mill was formally inaugurated on July 21, 1961 — Saint Victor's Day, the patron saint of millers, a fitting date for the occasion.

Did the mill ever actually grind grain in Westouter?

Here lies a curious twist in the mill's history: although its sails turned during the 1961 inauguration ceremony, Lijstermolen was never put into full working operation at its new location. For decades it stood mainly as a landscape feature and a monument to traditional milling craft, rather than as a functioning production site.

What has changed in recent years?

The mill's historical and architectural value was formally recognized in 2004, when Lijstermolen was granted protected monument status. An even more significant turning point came with a major structural restoration carried out between 2020 and 2021. The goal of the project was to restore the mill's capacity to actually grind grain again, opening a new, active chapter after decades of serving purely as a decorative and historical landmark.

Where exactly is the mill located?

Lijstermolen stands on the Rodeberg hill in Westouter, part of the Heuvelland municipality, in the scenic hilly region of West Flanders near the French border. The hilltop location is no accident — for centuries, elevated sites like this one were chosen for windmills precisely because of their better wind exposure, which made milling more efficient.

Frequently asked questions

Is Lijstermolen an original Westouter structure? No — the mill was built between 1801 and 1805 in Beernem and only relocated to Westouter between 1957 and 1960.

What type of windmill is it? It is a post mill (staakmolen), a wooden windmill whose entire body rotates around a central post to face the wind.

Can visitors see the mill? It has been a protected monument since 2004, and following its 2020–2021 restoration it regained the capacity to grind grain, making it a living part of the local heritage on the Rodeberg.

Why was it moved specifically to Westouter? Thanks to the initiative of Mayor Emiel Hardeman, who responded to an appeal from the provincial heritage committee looking for new homes for historic windmills threatened with demolition at their original sites.