Stenen bergmolen, Rijkevorsel

Stenen Bergmolen is a stone tower windmill standing in the Belgian municipality of Rijkevorsel, the last surviving mill of what was once several windmills serving the village. Located at coordinates 51.344444, 4.759722, it remains capable of grinding grain to this day, though its primary role now is that of a heritage landmark and visitor attraction.

How far back does milling on this spot go?

The tradition of grinding grain at this exact location stretches well beyond the building that stands here now. Records place milling activity on the site as early as 1440, making Rijkevorsel one of the locations with an unusually long, continuous milling tradition in the Kempen region. For centuries, local farmers brought their grain here, and the mill served as one of the village's economic focal points.

Where did the current stone structure come from?

Before the present mill, a post mill (a wooden windmill type known as "standerdmolen") stood on the same spot, built in 1842. That wooden structure burned down completely during the night of 13 to 14 May 1861. Shortly afterward, Josephus Brusselaers received authorization from the province's Permanent Deputation to erect a new stone mill near the site of the one that had burned. The stone tower itself was built by mason Jan Hoppenbrouwers-Mostmans. This is the very structure — a tower mill with a masonry base — that survives today and gives the mill its solid, distinctive appearance.

How did the mill's use change over the decades?

The mill's history reflects the broader economic shifts of the region. During the First World War, it was temporarily used for pressing oil, showing how local milling infrastructure adapted to wartime needs and shortages. Around 1927, a diesel engine was installed to support or replace wind power — a typical modernization step for windmills of that era, as reliance on wind alone became less competitive against mechanized alternatives. Professional grain milling continued here until around 1960, with the last miller to run it commercially being Jan Van Opstal-De Koninck — which is also the source of the mill's alternate historical name, Molen van Opstal.

What happened to the mill after milling operations ended?

Once professional milling stopped, the building did not simply stand empty — it took on an entirely different role. Between 1966 and 1981, it was leased out and operated as a café and discotheque venue. This chapter in the mill's history illustrates how heritage windmills in Belgium were sometimes repurposed to serve local community needs in the second half of the twentieth century, before systematic preservation efforts became widespread.

When did the mill become public property and undergo restoration?

A turning point came in 1996, when the municipality of Rijkevorsel purchased the mill and began preparations for a full-scale restoration. The conservation work aimed to restore the mill to genuine working order rather than simply preserving it as a static exhibit. These efforts paid off: on 13 and 14 April 2002, the restored mill was officially put back into use, once again "maalvaardig" — fully capable of grinding grain.

Frequently asked questions

Can Stenen Bergmolen still grind grain today? Yes. Following its restoration, completed in 2002, the mill regained full working order and is technically capable of milling grain, although it now functions primarily as a heritage site and visitor attraction.

Why is the mill also known as Molen van Opstal? The name comes from Jan Van Opstal-De Koninck, the last miller to operate the mill commercially, who ran it until around 1960.

Is the current mill the same building as the original Rijkevorsel windmill? No. The present stone structure replaced an earlier wooden post mill built in 1842, which burned down in 1861. The new mill was erected shortly afterward, near the same location.