Molen van Leyssen

Molen van Leyssen is a brick tower windmill in Overpelt, a town that today forms part of the municipality of Pelt in the Belgian province of Limburg. Although it still looks like a classic stone-built mill from the outside, it has served for decades as a private residence rather than a working mill.

Where does the mill's name come from?

The name comes from the Leyssen family, specifically from Jozef Leyssen (1853–1941), a miller originally from Sint-Huibrechts-Lille. In 1898 he submitted a request to the municipality of Overpelt for permission to build a stone mill that would replace an older wooden mill typical of the region at the time. The new brick structure was completed and started operating the following year, in 1899.

How long did the mill remain in operation?

The mill stayed in the hands of the Leyssen family, who ran it until 1951. Milling activity itself continued for roughly another decade after that, lasting until around 1960, even once the founding family was no longer directly in charge. Once grinding stopped, the building lost its original economic function, but it did not fall into complete ruin, which later made its preservation possible.

Why did the municipality decide to buy the mill?

Three years after milling activity ended, in 1963, the municipality of Overpelt purchased the mill specifically to protect it from demolition. This was a common pattern across Belgium at the time: as mechanization made traditional windmills economically obsolete, many historic mills faced physical destruction unless local authorities or heritage organizations stepped in to take responsibility for them. The municipal purchase was a direct response to that risk.

What did the 1966 restoration involve?

After acquiring the mill, the municipality commissioned its restoration from Adriaens Molenbouw, a specialist firm based in Weert, the Netherlands, known for restoring and reconstructing traditional windmills. The restoration work was completed in 1966. Thanks to this intervention, the building retained its historic shape and structure, even though it was never returned to active milling use.

What happened to the mill after it was sold in 1976?

A decade after the restoration, in 1976, the municipality sold the mill under certain conditions governing its future use. The new owner converted the building into a residence. As part of that residential conversion, the sail cross together with its wind-facing mechanism was removed, meaning the mill lost its fully functional wind-driven mechanism while keeping the architectural form of its main body intact.

What significance does Molen van Leyssen hold today?

Despite losing its milling function and wind mechanism, Molen van Leyssen remains part of the local industrial heritage of Limburg province. It stands as a record of the period when brick-built windmills replaced older wooden constructions, and as an example of how local communities managed to preserve historic structures even as traditional trades disappeared. For anyone interested in milling history or industrial architecture in the Pelt/Overpelt area, the building is a notable stop, though as a private home it cannot be visited inside.

Frequently asked questions

Is Molen van Leyssen still used to grind grain? No. Milling activity ended around 1960, and since 1976 the building has functioned as a private home.

Can visitors go inside the mill? No, the building is privately owned and used as a residence, so it is not open to the public.

Who built this windmill? The brick structure was built in 1899, following a request submitted the previous year by miller Jozef Leyssen to the municipality of Overpelt.