Steenen Molen

Steenen Molen is a stone-built windmill standing in Boechout, in the Antwerp province of Belgium. Its name literally means "stone mill," a label that set it apart from the many timber-built windmills that once dominated this part of Flanders. The mill sits along an old route toward Antwerp and has long served as a recognizable landmark for the municipality.

How did this mill come to be built?

The windmill was raised in 1782 at the initiative of Jan Frans Dielens, a lawyer attached to the Sovereign Council of Brabant. Getting it built was not straightforward — Frans Palms, the miller who ran the nearby wooden Berderenmolen, objected to the project, fearing new competition for his own business. Dielens nonetheless secured the required charter from the Austrian emperor Joseph II, granted on 16 May 1782, which allowed construction to proceed. From the outset, the site combined two functions: a grain mill and, alongside it, an oil mill.

How did ownership change over time?

In 1817, through inheritance, the mill passed to Jan Corluy and Elisa Palms — the daughter of the very miller who had once opposed its construction at the Berderenmolen. That marriage of interests effectively closed the old rivalry between the two milling families. The oil-milling side of the operation was dismantled around the turn of the century, with sources pointing to either 1896 or 1906, while the grain mill itself continued working for considerably longer.

What happened to it during the war?

Steenen Molen was granted protected monument status on 13 October 1943. Barely a year later, in 1944, it suffered serious damage from a V1 flying bomb, one of the German long-range weapons deployed during the closing stages of the Second World War. The damage was severe enough to put the mill's traditional operation in question for years afterward.

How was it brought back after the war?

After the war, a mechanical milling system driven by a diesel engine salvaged from British army equipment was installed at the site, and it kept the mill in operation until 1975, effectively replacing wind power for day-to-day milling. In 1965, the sails and mechanism underwent repair work carried out by the well-known millwrights Caers of Retie. Despite that intervention, the building fell into further disrepair over the following decades, until a thorough restoration was completed in 2004, returning the mill to the well-kept condition visitors see today.

Why is it worth a visit today?

Steenen Molen now stands as an example of how an 18th-century piece of industrial architecture can survive wartime damage and a long period of neglect and still come out the other side through careful restoration. Its stone construction, rarer than the timber windmills typical of the region, makes it a distinctive stop for anyone interested in the industrial heritage and rural architecture of Flanders.

Frequently asked questions

When was Steenen Molen built? It was built in 1782, under a charter granted by Emperor Joseph II.

Why is the mill called "stone mill"? The name distinguishes it from the wooden windmills common in the area — Steenen Molen was built entirely of masonry.

What happened to it during the Second World War? In 1944 it was seriously damaged by a V1 flying bomb, just a year after being declared a protected monument.

Is the mill still operational? Following its restoration completed in 2004, the mill retains its historic appearance, though its working role gradually gave way to its status as a heritage site.