Tommenmolen

Tommenmolen is a historic watermill in Grimbergen, in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, standing on the small Maalbeek stream. It is one of five watermills spread along this waterway and is today one of the best-preserved structures of its kind in the area.

Where does the mill's name come from?

The mill is first mentioned in records from 1369, when it operated under the name "Liermolen" and belonged to the nearby "Hof van Lier" farmstead. It received its current name, Tommenmolen, around the year 1400, when ownership passed to the Van der Tommen family. That family ran the mill for more than a century, and its name has stuck to the building ever since.

How did ownership change over the centuries?

In 1573 the mill passed into the hands of the Norbertine canons of Grimbergen Abbey and remained theirs until the French occupation. Following the French Revolution, the abbey's property, including the mill, was confiscated by French authorities and sold at public auction a few years later. The site then stayed in private hands until 1969, when the municipality of Grimbergen purchased it with the aim of restoring and preserving it for future generations.

What survives from the original machinery?

The mill's external mechanism was renovated in 1930, and the mill itself kept grinding grain until the 1960s. After the municipality took over, a partial restoration followed in 1971. The oak wooden milling mechanism and the bread oven remain fully intact today, letting visitors see exactly how a miller's work looked centuries ago. The barn and part of the former miller's house now serve as exhibition space.

What is Tommenmolen used for today?

In 1982 the site was turned into a museum location run by MOT — the Museum for Old Techniques. Visitors can see the working mill mechanism, and the former stable now houses a museum café. Together with its surroundings, the mill is one of the stops along a trail that traces the history of milling along the Maalbeek.

When can you visit?

The museum is open from April through September, on weekends and public holidays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A regular ticket costs around 6 euros, with a reduced rate of about 4 euros for visitors aged 65 and over, and about 2 euros for children aged 6 to 18. Children under 6 enter free of charge.

Frequently asked questions

Is Tommenmolen still a working mill? The milling mechanism has been preserved in working order and is shown to visitors as part of the museum exhibition, although the mill no longer produces flour on a regular basis as it did until the 1960s.

Where does the mill's name come from? The name refers to the Van der Tommen family, who owned the mill from around 1400 for more than a hundred years — before that, the mill was known as Liermolen.

Which organisation runs the mill today? The site is managed by MOT — the Museum for Old Techniques, which has operated a museum here since 1982 dedicated to traditional crafts and techniques.

Can visitors get something to eat or drink at the mill? Yes, the former stable has been converted into a museum café that is open to visitors during opening hours.