Schelderomolen

Schelderomolen is a stone tower mill of the bovenkruier type standing in Schelderode, a sub-village of the municipality of Merelbeke in East Flanders, Belgium. Locals also know it as the "Witte Wachter" – the White Watcher – a nickname that reflects how visible the whitewashed mill is above the surrounding farmland.

How far back does this mill site go?

A mill has stood on this exact spot since the 17th century, though in a very different form than today. The earliest documented reference comes from the 1669 will of Jacques Thienpont, which mentions a wooden post mill (standerdmolen) already standing here – making it the oldest known record tying a mill to this location. That wooden structure remained in use for more than two centuries, changing hands several times until the Van Cauwenberghe family took ownership in 1862.

When did the wooden mill become a stone one?

The wooden post mill was eventually replaced in 1907 by the stone bovenkruier that stands today – a design where only the cap and sails rotate to face the wind, rather than the entire building. It was built by millwright Baerdeman from Velzeke. Notably, the Schelderomolen was the last stone bovenkruier ever constructed in East Flanders, marking the end of an era for this style of mill building in the province.

What happened to the mill during the First World War?

The mill's history isn't limited to grinding grain. During World War I, the building was pressed into service as a military hospital, with milling operations halted while the structure housed wounded soldiers. This episode shows how local industrial buildings were sometimes repurposed for wartime needs far removed from their original function.

How did the mill end up in public hands?

After decades of industrial use, ownership eventually shifted to the public sector. The municipality of Merelbeke purchased the mill in 1989, taking on responsibility for its preservation. Two years later, in 1991, the mill was granted protected monument status, shielding it from demolition or unsympathetic alterations. A technical restoration followed, and by 1994 the mill was operational again and able to turn its sails once more.

What should visitors know about the Schelderomolen?

The mill stands near the former Schelderodekouter, in the quiet farmland surrounding Schelderode. It represents an unusually continuous thread of local history: the same site has served milling purposes since the days of the wooden post mill, through a change in construction technology, a wartime interruption, a period of industrial decline, and finally a rescue as a protected heritage building. For anyone interested in Flemish milling history, it's a compact case study in how these structures evolved and survived.

Frequently asked questions

Can the Schelderomolen still operate? Yes, following the restoration completed in 1994, the mill regained its technical ability to run.

Where does the nickname "Witte Wachter" come from? It's a local nickname referring to the mill's distinctive whitewashed appearance and its role as a landmark visible from a distance over the fields.

Who built the current stone mill? The 1907 structure was built by millwright Baerdeman from Velzeke, replacing the earlier wooden post mill on the same site.

Is the mill a protected monument? Yes, it was listed as a protected monument in 1991, two years after the municipality of Merelbeke acquired it.