Straalmolen

Straalmolen is a historic watermill standing on the Grote Nete river, right where it meets the Heiloop stream, on the boundary between the former municipality of Olmen and the town of Balen in Belgium's Antwerp province. It is one of the oldest and longest-operating mills in the region, with records tracing back to 1374, when it was listed as property of the Lords of Olmen.

How did the mill survive centuries of turmoil?

The story of Straalmolen is largely one of fires and rebuilding. The mill burned down and was reconstructed in 1613, and in the mid-17th century, in 1651, it was expanded with an additional oil mill and a bark mill used for grinding oak bark for the tanning industry. Thanks to this expansion, Straalmolen became one of the most profitable mills in what is now Antwerp province during the second half of the 17th century.

Misfortune kept finding the site, however: the mill burned again in 1696 but was rebuilt that same year. A further, this time total, fire destroyed the building in 1766. It was rebuilt the following year, in 1767, though without the oil mill and bark mill this time — that part of the operation was never restored.

Who owned the mill over the centuries?

For hundreds of years, Straalmolen changed hands along with the local noble families who held it. In the 15th century it belonged to a member of the Van Bakhoven family. In 1596, the lordship attached to the mill was sold to the Damant family, and shortly afterward, through inheritance, passed on to the Van Varick family. This kind of transfer between families was typical for mills of this type under the ancien régime, when ban mills were an important source of income and prestige for local feudal lords.

How did the mill's construction change over time?

Straalmolen was originally built of wood, which goes a long way toward explaining why it fell victim to so many fires. Gradually, presumably starting in 1870, the wooden elements began to be replaced with stone construction. The real turning point, though, came in the first half of the 20th century: in 1934 an entirely new stone mill building was erected, and the old wooden undershot water wheel was replaced with a more modern water turbine fitted with iron gearing. This modernization allowed the mill to keep operating as a working production facility considerably longer than many comparable mills in the region, most of which had already ceased operations by that time.

Is Straalmolen still operating today?

Yes — Straalmolen is today one of the few watermills in Belgium still running on a professional basis, producing grain flour. Its centuries-long history, its continuity of operation despite repeated disasters, and its preserved 1934 turbine make it a site of considerable importance to the industrial heritage of the Kempen region.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Straalmolen located? The mill sits on the Grote Nete river, at the point where the Heiloop flows into it, on the border between the former municipality of Olmen and the town of Balen in Antwerp province.

How far back does the mill's history go? The earliest records of Straalmolen date to 1374, making it one of the oldest mills of its kind in the area.

Why did the mill burn down so often? Its original construction was wooden, which made it especially vulnerable to fire — it burned in 1613, 1696 and 1766, among other years, but was rebuilt each time.

Does the mill still produce flour? Yes, Straalmolen still operates as a professional grain mill, powered by the water turbine installed in 1934.