Molen van Sint-Anneke

Molen van Sint-Anneke is a wooden grain windmill standing in the Linkeroever district of Antwerp, one of only a handful of windmills found so close to the heart of a major city. Its story is unusual, because the mill was not built where it now stands — it arrived through relocation rather than original construction.

Where did this mill come from?

The structure was built back in the 18th century, shortly after 1775, in the village of Kwaadmechelen in the province of Limburg, in a hamlet known as het Veertje. Its first owner was the Geuens family, and the mill originally served the ordinary purpose of grinding grain for the surrounding community.

Why did it end up in Antwerp?

The turning point in the mill's history came in 1937. Construction of the Albert Canal required the removal of numerous structures along its planned route, and the windmill from het Veertje was among them. Rather than being demolished, it was relocated — a decision made by Imalso, an intercommunal association, which chose to re-erect the mill on Linkeroever, near Sint-Anneke beach. Since then it has also carried a second name, Molen van 't Veertje, referring back to its place of origin.

An ornament, not a working mill

After the move, the windmill was placed on the roof platform of a nearby restaurant, where it served a purely decorative role — it was never put into operation as a functioning grain mill. For decades it remained a distinctive feature of the waterfront, even though its mechanism stayed idle.

Damage and years of neglect

The first major restoration took place in 1974, carried out by millwright Mariman of Zele, who replaced the sails, balcony, staircase, and turning mechanism, and renewed the roof of the mill's base. The following decades were less kind to the structure. In 1990, a severe storm badly damaged the mill and threatened its collapse, forcing it to be dismantled. Its parts were stored behind the restaurant, where they were left exposed to the elements for years. The situation worsened in February 1996, when a homeless person lit a fire nearby that ended up destroying part of the stored components.

A return to life

Despite these losses, the mill was given a second chance. Its reconstruction was completed in 2001, and several years later, in 2008, it was made operational again — this time as a fully functioning mechanical windmill. Earlier, on 10 June 1992, Molen van Sint-Anneke had already been granted protected monument status, formally recognizing its historical value.

What to know before visiting

Today the windmill stands on Linkeroever in Antwerp, close to Sint-Anneke beach, and is easily reached by anyone walking the riverside area on the opposite bank of the Scheldt from the city's historic center. The site brings together two separate histories — a rural mill from Limburg and an urban beach in Antwerp — making it an unusual stop for anyone interested in industrial heritage as well as the city's 20th-century past.

Frequently asked questions

Is the mill still operational? Following its reconstruction completed in 2001 and its reactivation in 2008, the mechanism works, though today the mill mainly serves as a historic landmark rather than an active production site.

Where does the name Molen van 't Veertje come from? It is the mill's alternative name, referring to its original location in the hamlet of het Veertje in Kwaadmechelen, from where it was relocated to Antwerp in 1937.

Is the mill a protected monument? Yes, it received official protected monument status on 10 June 1992.