Watermill Sint-Gertrudis-Pede

Watermill Sint-Gertrudis-Pede is a working watermill located in Sint-Gertrudis-Pede, part of the municipality of Dilbeek, just west of Brussels. Locally the mill is known as Pedemolen, a name derived from the Pede stream, whose current has powered its wheel for generations. What sets this mill apart from the many similar structures once scattered across the region is that it remains the only working watermill left in the whole of Pajottenland — a historic farming region southwest of Brussels, known for its rolling hills, orchards, and traditional farmsteads.

Why is this mill still running?

For centuries, Pajottenland was dotted with watermills and windmills that powered local agriculture — grinding grain, pressing oil, and serving small rural industries. As industrialization and electrification spread, most of these mills fell silent or fell into disrepair, becoming little more than picturesque but non-functioning landmarks. Watermill Sint-Gertrudis-Pede stands out as the exception: the only mill of its kind in the region that has kept its technical condition intact and can still operate as it always did, driven by the flow of running water.

Heritage protection

The mill's importance to local heritage was formally recognized in 1975, when it was granted protected monument status. This protection covers not just the building itself, but the milling mechanism as well, which stands as a testament to older techniques of harnessing water power for agriculture and small-scale processing.

Where exactly is it located?

The mill sits in Sint-Gertrudis-Pede, one of the villages within the municipality of Dilbeek, in the province of Flemish Brabant. Its geographic coordinates are approximately 50.825°N, 4.210°E, placing it very close to the edge of Brussels while still firmly within the rural, Flemish landscape of Pajottenland. This proximity between a major capital city and a quiet farming region means the area draws both city residents looking for a break from urban life and visitors interested in the history of rural industry.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the only working watermill in the area? Yes — it is the only watermill still in operation across the whole of Pajottenland, a region that once had many more.

Since when has the mill been legally protected? It has held protected monument status since 1975.

Which municipality is the mill part of? It stands in Sint-Gertrudis-Pede, a village belonging to the municipality of Dilbeek in Flemish Brabant.

What is the mill's local name? It is known locally as Pedemolen, a name that references the Pede stream that drives it.