Moulin de Riele

Moulin de Riele is a timber windmill standing in open fields near Wormhout, a small municipality in the Nord department of French Flanders. Also known as Moulin Deschodt or Moulin de la Briarde, it is the sole survivor of eleven windmills once recorded in Wormhout.

What kind of mill is this?

It is a classic pivot mill — a design in which the entire wooden body rotates on its base so the sails can be turned to face the wind. The mill was built in 1756 by carpenter Philippe François Desmyttère for local farmer Ignace Coudeville; the date is confirmed by a Dutch-language inscription carved into the structure, a small reminder of the region's Flemish roots. Its four sails span 23 meters and, when fully extended, cut an impressive silhouette against the flat, open Flanders countryside.

The mill is listed as a monument historique under reference PA00107895, granting it formal heritage protection under French law.

Where exactly is it located?

Moulin de Riele sits in open farmland roughly 3 kilometers southeast of Wormhout's village center, between the small hamlets of Riet Veld and Kieken Put. This isolated setting makes the mill visible from a distance and turns it into a natural landmark for hikers and cyclists exploring the countryside.

What is the mill's history?

The mill's story mirrors the broader rise and fall of windmill milling in the region as industrialization took hold. By the early 19th century, Wormhout counted eleven windmills, but competition from steam-powered mills, unfavorable regulations, and the damage of wartime gradually wiped most of them out. Moulin de Riele is the only one that survived that decline.

In 1891, its owner moved the mill 200 meters — a practice not unusual for timber windmills built on movable frames. In 1921, it was bought by Abel Deschodt, who restored it; his name is the source of the alternative name Moulin Deschodt still used today. In 1966, Deschodt bequeathed the mill to the municipality of Wormhout, placing it under public stewardship. A further thorough restoration took place in 1983, carried out by the Regional Association of Friends of Mills (ARAM), an organization dedicated to preserving northern France's windmill heritage.

Can visitors go inside?

Yes — the local tourist office, Office de tourisme des Hauts de Flandre, organizes occasional guided visits and open days that let visitors see the mill's interior and its grinding mechanism. A walking route has also been laid out around the site, the "circuit du moulin de la Briarde," combining a countryside stroll with a stop at the landmark. It makes for a quiet, short outing away from the busier tourist trails of French Flanders.

Who is this attraction for?

Moulin de Riele appeals to fans of rural and industrial heritage architecture, photographers drawn to its striking shape against the flat Flanders landscape, and families or walkers making use of the surrounding trails. It is a modest but genuine site — free of crowds and the commercial trappings that surround some of the region's better-known landmarks.

Frequently asked questions

What other names does Moulin de Riele go by? The mill is also known as Moulin Deschodt, after the family that restored and later donated it to the municipality, and as Moulin de la Briarde.

When was the mill built? It was constructed in 1756, a date confirmed by a Dutch-language inscription on the structure.

Is Moulin de Riele still used for milling flour? Historically it was a working pivot flour mill with 23-meter sails; today it functions primarily as a protected heritage landmark rather than an active production site.

How do you get to the mill? It stands in fields about 3 km southeast of Wormhout, between the hamlets of Riet Veld and Kieken Put — best reached on foot or by bike via the "circuit du moulin de la Briarde."