Oostmolen

Oostmolen is a historic windmill standing in Terlo, a village that is part of the Belgian municipality of Kasterlee in the province of Antwerp. The mill has kept its historic shape and has served for decades as a holiday home, while still being protected as a heritage monument.

Where did this mill come from?

The story of Oostmolen goes back to 1801, when Jan Baptist De Kinderen was granted permission to erect a grain windmill in Terlo. Four years later, in 1805, an oil mill was added to it, allowing the site to produce both flour and oil.

How did the mill's structure change over time?

Oostmolen operated as a so-called grondzeiler, a post mill turned around an axis at ground level, and at the same time as a beltmolen, or belt mill. Its current form dates from 1875, when the mill was rebuilt around a wooden, octagonal turning top that had survived from 1801. As a result, the structure combines elements from two different construction periods, even though from the outside it looks like a single, unified building from the second half of the 19th century.

What was ground at the mill?

Until 1845, grain and bark were milled here alternately, with the bark milling linked to the production of tanning agents used in local leather tanning. After 1845, the mill focused exclusively on grinding grain, which remained its main function for decades afterward.

What events shaped the mill's history?

In June 1929, Oostmolen was severely damaged after being struck by lightning. Despite this damage, the mill was restored to use and continued its milling operations. Professional grain milling at Oostmolen ultimately came to an end in 1957, after which the mill no longer served the economic function it had held since it was first built.

What is the status of Oostmolen today?

Oostmolen has been a protected monument since 18 October 1943, meaning its historical and architectural value was officially recognized even before the serious lightning damage of 1929 and before milling operations ended. Today the building serves as a holiday home and is not open to visitors, so it is not possible to go inside or see the old milling machinery.

The mill is located in the village of Terlo, within the municipality of Kasterlee, in a quiet, rural setting typical of the Kempen region in the province of Antwerp. Its geographic coordinates are approximately 51.245 degrees north and 5.002 degrees east.

Frequently asked questions

Can Oostmolen be visited on the inside? No — the mill currently functions as a private holiday home and is not open to visitors.

Since when has Oostmolen been a protected monument? It has been protected as a heritage monument since 18 October 1943.

Until when did the mill operate commercially? Professional grain milling continued at the site until 1957.

What did the mill grind besides grain? Until 1845 it alternately ground grain and bark used for producing tanning agents.