Plankeveldmolen

Plankeveldmolen is a former stone windmill standing on the Plankeveld hill in the East Flanders municipality of Horebeke, in the village of Sint-Maria-Horebeke. This corner of the Flemish Ardennes is known for its rolling hills and its scattering of historic windmills, and Plankeveldmolen — also known as Spijtmolen — ranks among the oldest documented examples in the area.

Where does the name come from and how old is the mill?

The name comes directly from its location on the Plankeveld hill. Historians date the mill's construction to before 1775: it already appears on the Ferraris map, one of the most important 18th-century surveys of the territory that is now Belgium, and again on a map from 1789. These two cartographic sources make Plankeveldmolen one of the better-documented mills in the Horebeke area from a historical standpoint.

What type of mill was it?

Plankeveldmolen is a stone grain mill of the ground-sailer type — a construction where the sails reach almost down to ground level, unlike mills raised on a tall brick base. This design was typical of mills built on natural elevations, where the extra height of a raised base wasn't needed to catch the wind effectively.

How did the building's use change over time?

For decades the mill served an agricultural purpose, grinding grain for local farmers. In 1925 an electric grain mill was added alongside the traditional windmill — a common step at a time when wind-powered mills were gradually giving way to electrified milling. A turning point came in 1952, when the cap and sails were removed. Since then only the body (romp) of the structure has remained, stripped of the wind-driven mechanism that once defined it.

What has happened to the mill in recent decades?

In 1990 the brickwork of the building was restored, which helped the surviving structure remain in good condition to this day. Since 2016 the mill body has served as a private residence — a common fate for historic windmills in Belgium once their original industrial function fades, with the structure itself, often listed as protected heritage, finding new life as a home.

Why is Plankeveldmolen worth seeing?

For visitors exploring the Flemish Ardennes, Plankeveldmolen illustrates how historic rural architecture can adapt to modern needs without losing its character. Its position on the Plankeveld hill also offers the kind of view the region is known for: rolling green hills across Horebeke, one of the few genuinely hilly stretches of Flanders.

Frequently asked questions

Does the mill still have its sails? No. The sails and cap were removed in 1952, leaving only the stone body of the structure standing.

Can Plankeveldmolen be visited inside? Since 2016 the building has been a private residence, so it is not open to visitors.

How old is this mill? It was built before 1775 — it already appears on the Ferraris map and on a map from 1789.

What makes a ground-sailer different from other windmill types? A ground-sailer is a mill whose sails extend almost to ground level, unlike mills built on a tall raised base — a design typical of mills erected on natural hills or elevations.