Windmolen Hoogveld

Windmolen Hoogveld is a former windmill standing in the village of Vliermaal, part of the municipality of Kortessem, on the Hoogveld hill near Hasselt in the Belgian province of Limburg. This stone bergmolen — a mill type with a fixed masonry base topped by a rotating cap housing the milling mechanism — was built in 1857 on the orders of the then mayor, Alfons Duvivier-Vandenberg. The mill was placed at the highest point of the surrounding landscape, roughly 102.5 metres above sea level, a deliberate choice meant to catch as much wind as possible after the older watermills on the upper course of the Mombeek stream had lost their usefulness.

Why was a windmill built on this particular spot?

Before the mill on Hoogveld existed, farmers in the area relied on watermills powered by the Mombeek. Once those watermills declined — likely due to fluctuating water levels or growing demand for grain processing — the owner of the nearby estate opted to build a windmill instead. Choosing the hilltop made practical sense: a windmill depends on open exposure and steady, unobstructed wind, both of which the highest point in the area could offer far better than a location along the stream.

How long was the mill actually in operation?

The mill's working life was relatively short. By 1908 — barely half a century after construction — it was already dismantled, with the sails and the rotating cap mechanism removed, leaving only the masonry base standing. This did not mean the end of agricultural use on the site, however: grain from the nearby castle continued to be threshed in the barn using a horse-powered threshing wheel, showing that the estate's farming operations carried on, just through a simpler, less mechanised method.

What happened to the building afterwards?

The shortened structure of the former mill, now without its upper rotating section, served for a time as a dance hall — a local gathering and entertainment space for people in the area. This kind of afterlife, where a former industrial or agricultural building takes on a new social role, is common among old mills across the Limburg region. Between 2004 and 2005, the building underwent another transformation, being converted into a private residence and adapted to modern living standards.

What remains of the original mill equipment?

From the original interior, only two millstones have survived, standing as a quiet reminder of the building's former purpose. The earthen mound (the molenberg) that once elevated the mill above the surrounding terrain to improve its exposure to wind has eroded over time and has largely disappeared from the landscape.

Frequently asked questions

Is Windmolen Hoogveld still operating as a mill? No. The mill stopped functioning in 1908, and since 2004–2005 the building has served as a private residence.

Where exactly is this site located? In the village of Vliermaal, part of the municipality of Kortessem, on the Hoogveld hill in Limburg province, near Hasselt.

What is a bergmolen? It's a type of windmill with a fixed masonry base and a rotating upper cap that houses the milling machinery, allowing only the cap to turn toward the wind rather than the whole structure.

Can visitors go inside today? No, since the building is now a private home, its interior isn't open to the public — but the distinctive, shortened silhouette of the former mill can still be seen from outside.