Napoleonsmolen

Napoleonsmolen is a brick windmill standing on Dr. Mathijsenstraat, just outside the former city walls of Hamont, part of the municipality of Hamont-Achel on Belgium's border with the Netherlands. Its name recalls the Napoleonic era in which it was built, and its history ties together the abolition of old feudal milling rights with the local milling tradition of the Kempen region.

Where does the name come from and when was the mill built?

The windmill was erected in 1804, a date inscribed on its body alongside the marking AN XII, referring to the twelfth year of the French revolutionary calendar. The direct reason for its construction was the collapse of an older wooden windmill in nearby Achel in 1800. Before that, residents of Hamont had been obliged to use a mill owned by the local feudal lord under the so-called ban right. When Napoleon Bonaparte abolished this privilege, a group of seven wealthy Hamont citizens, drawn from the community of travelling merchants known as Teuten, decided to build their own mill a few hundred meters outside the town walls. This is where the name comes from — a symbolic reference to the ruler whose reforms made the mill possible in the first place.

How did the mill's structure change over time?

Originally, Napoleonsmolen was used for grinding grain and pressing oil. Ownership passed through several hands until 1862, when it was bought by Louis Mathijsen, brother of the well-known physician Antonius Mathijsen. It was Louis who carried out a major rebuild in 1867, converting the mill from a classic post mill into a tower mill by adding a cylindrical upper structure. This modernization increased efficiency and brought the mill in line with milling standards of the later 19th century.

How did the mill survive into the present day?

In the following decades the mill gradually lost its economic role, though its historical and architectural value was only formally recognized in the second half of the 20th century. In 1982, Napoleonsmolen was granted protected monument status, and eight years later, in 1990, the municipality of Hamont-Achel acquired the property. This municipal takeover opened the way for a comprehensive restoration.

Is the mill still operational?

Restoration work was carried out between 1995 and 1997 under the direction of architects A. Rijcken and W. Van Hoof together with mill specialist Nico Jurgens, with construction handled by the millwright firm Adriaens. Work began in 1996, and the mill was put back into operation in 1997. Since then, Napoleonsmolen has functioned as a working mill — volunteer millers grind grain and press linseed oil there, keeping the old craft alive and showing visitors what milling work looked like two centuries ago.

Where exactly is Napoleonsmolen located?

The mill stands on Dr. Mathijsenstraat in Hamont, part of the municipality of Hamont-Achel, close to the town center and the border with the Netherlands. Its setting in the rural Kempen region gives the surroundings a quiet, pastoral character that suits the mill's historic profile.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Napoleonsmolen? The mill was built in 1804, making it more than two centuries old.

Why is the mill called Napoleonsmolen? The name refers to Napoleon Bonaparte, whose reform abolished the feudal ban right and allowed Hamont residents to build their own mill.

Can visitors see the mill actually working? Yes — following the restoration completed in 1997, the mill is operational, and volunteers demonstrate traditional grain grinding and linseed oil pressing.

Who converted the mill into a tower mill? Louis Mathijsen, owner from 1862, rebuilt it in 1867, adding the cylindrical upper section.