Watermolen te Mol

Watermolen de Beekjuffer is a historic watermill on the Molse Nete river, standing right at the edge of the town centre of Mol, Belgium, along the street Het Getouw. Although the building now houses a small nature museum, its roots stretch back to the Carolingian era, making it one of the oldest mill sites in the Kempen region.

Where does the mill's name come from?

The earliest references to a mill on this spot date to the year 774, during the reign of Charlemagne, though historians believe the actual construction more likely took place between 800 and 1000. The name "De Beekjuffer" — literally "the stream damselfly" — refers to the delicate insect associated with the clean, slow-flowing waters of the Nete, the river on which the mill sits. That name now belongs to the nature education centre housed inside the mill.

How did the mill's fortunes change over the centuries?

The mill's history has been anything but quiet. In 1223 it became the subject of a dispute between the Abbey of Corbie and the lord of Mol, with the local lord ultimately gaining control and turning it into a so-called "banmolen" — a mill that local residents were legally obliged to use. In 1377, Duke Wenceslaus and Duchess Joanna granted the mill to the residents of Mol. Around 1580 the building was completely destroyed during military conflict, and it was not rebuilt until 1758, when miller Adriaen Smolders reconstructed it — smaller than the original — in the form that survives today.

When did the mill stop grinding grain?

The mill operated as a working grain mill until 1910. In 1906 the municipality of Mol purchased the property, and shortly after, in 1910, the lock and waterwheel were dismantled to reduce the risk of flooding in the surrounding area. For most of the 20th century the building stood empty, until a 1985 renovation, supported by the King Baudouin Foundation and the National Lottery, brought it back to life.

What can visitors see at the mill today?

The site is now cared for by the nature association De Gagel, which runs a small museum inside dedicated to the ecology and history of the Molse Nete valley — from local flora and fauna to the region's water management history. On 26 June 2005, a new wooden undershot wheel, built to a traditional Brabant design, was installed and inaugurated. The original milling machinery no longer exists, so today the mill functions mainly as an educational and scenic attraction rather than a working mill.

Where exactly is the mill located?

Watermolen de Beekjuffer stands on Het Getouw in Mol, on cadastral plot F983, at coordinates 51.186834, 5.122156. The site lies just east of the town centre and is easily reached on foot or by bike along the paths that follow the Molse Nete.

Frequently asked questions

Is the mill still used to grind grain? No — the milling machinery was removed in 1910, and today's waterwheel, installed in 2005, serves mainly a demonstrative and historical purpose.

Who manages the site? The building belongs to the municipality of Mol, while day-to-day care is handled by the local nature association De Gagel.

Can visitors go inside? Yes, the building houses a small museum dedicated to the Molse Nete valley, run by the nature association.

How old is this mill? The earliest records date to 774, though the current structure dates from the 1758 reconstruction following the destruction of around 1580.