Molen van Larum, Geel

Molen van Larum is a wooden post mill standing in the village of Larum, part of the municipality of Geel in the Belgian province of Antwerp. For generations it served as the working heart of the local farming community, grinding grain for area farmers, and it remains one of the region's best-preserved pieces of traditional milling technology.

When was the mill built?

The mill was erected in 1846, right next to an already existing miller's house. Construction was carried out by Karel Van de Perre, who had obtained formal permission for the project on 28 August 1846 from the Permanent Delegation of the Province of Antwerp — the administrative body responsible for approving such works at the time. The need for official authorization reflects how tightly regulated milling activity was in 19th-century Belgium.

How did the site change over time?

The windmill did not operate in isolation for long. Around 1900, a steam-powered grain mill was set up nearby, a common response across Western Europe as mechanical power began replacing wind as the driving force for milling. Many traditional windmills lost their economic relevance during this shift and fell into disrepair, but Molen van Larum kept operating.

The last miller to run it as a commercial business was Remi Swolfs. In 1973 he sold the mill to the municipality of Geel, a transfer that spared the structure from the neglect or demolition that befell many comparable mills in the region.

Is the mill still operational?

Following the transfer to municipal ownership, the mill was restored and was working again by 1977. Since then it has been kept running by volunteer millers, with Remi Swolfs himself becoming the first volunteer operator — the same man who had sold the mill returning to work it in a new, unpaid capacity. That continuity, from professional trade to community stewardship, gives the site particular resonance in local memory.

What protected status does it hold?

In 1992, Molen van Larum was officially recognized as a heritage monument and registered as a protected village view together with its surrounding landscape, meaning the protection extends beyond the building itself to the setting around it. A further restoration, which helped keep the mill in working technical condition, took place in 2002.

What can visitors see on site?

Visitors can observe the distinctive post-mill construction, in which the entire upper body of the mill, including its machinery, rotates around a central post so the sails can be turned to face the wind. This design is characteristic of rural milling traditions in Flanders, and because the mill is still functional and staffed by volunteers, it's possible to see grain actually being milled rather than viewing static museum equipment.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Molen van Larum located? In the village of Larum, part of the municipality of Geel, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium.

Who built the mill? Karel Van de Perre, under a permit granted on 28 August 1846 by the Permanent Delegation of the Province of Antwerp.

Is the mill still working? Yes — since 1977 it has been run by volunteer millers, with its condition maintained through restorations, most recently in 2002.

What protection status does it have? It has been a legally protected heritage monument since 1992, along with the surrounding rural landscape.