Peace Mill

Vredesmolen, better known in English as the Peace Mill, is a former windmill in the village of Klerken, part of the municipality of Houthulst in West Flanders. It stands on the highest point of the village, at roughly 43 metres above sea level — a position that shaped its history far beyond its original purpose.

When was the mill built?

The structure was erected in 1879 as a wooden grain and oil windmill. Local farmers relied on it to grind grain and press oil, making it a standard piece of rural infrastructure for the Klerken community in the late 19th century.

What role did it play during the First World War?

Because it sat on the highest ground in the surrounding flat Flemish countryside, the mill became a valuable observation post. Between 1914 and 1918, German forces used it as a lookout, monitoring Allied troop movements across the open terrain. In 1917 the mill suffered severe damage from artillery shelling, taking a direct hit that set it on fire. During the Allies' final offensive the mill was eventually captured, but by then German troops had already withdrawn through an underground passage connected to the site.

Where does the name "Peace Mill" come from?

Due to its wartime damage, the mill was also known locally as "Afgeschoten molen" (the "shot-down mill") or "Van Couillie's mill", after the family of millers who once operated it. It received its official name, Vredesmolen — Peace Mill — on 1 April 1999, the same date it was designated a protected monument. The name reflects the peace that followed the destruction the mill endured and witnessed during the war.

What does it look like today?

The Vredesmolen is a rare surviving example of a ruined mill: rather than being rebuilt into a working windmill, it has been preserved and stabilised as an open-topped historical structure. In 2014 it underwent a distinctive, thorough restoration as part of the Horizon 2025 project run by the Province of West Flanders, and the restored site was officially inaugurated that same year.

Can visitors access the site?

Yes — the mill grounds are open to the public free of charge, every day from sunrise to sunset. Thanks to its elevated position, the site offers wide views on clear days, reaching toward the Heuvelland hills and, at times, all the way to the coastline.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Peace Mill still an operating windmill? No, it survives as a preserved ruin that has undergone conservation restoration rather than a functioning production mill.

Why is the mill historically significant? German forces used it as an observation post during the First World War, and it was heavily damaged by artillery fire in 1917.

Since when has it been called the Peace Mill? Since 1 April 1999, when it was simultaneously granted protected monument status.

Is there an entrance fee? No, the site is freely accessible every day from sunrise to sunset.