Arbeid Adelt Windmill – Weelde-Ravels

The oldest recording of a mill in Weelde, located between ‘t Broek of Ravels-Eel and Polderstraat, dates back to 1296 (see toponyms like Moleneinde). Around 1801, this wooden post mill was moved to the Molenveld in de Meir, halfway between the church and the Street, and was taken down on March 6, 1940. The smock mill described below, which still exists, was erected in 1850 at the current location by mill builder Van Himbergen for the Bax-Pelkmans family from Weelde, and after a fire in the oil mill in 1906, it was rebuilt by Goris and Vosters. The cap and sails were torn off during a severe storm in 1921 but immediately replaced. In 1936, the mill was decommissioned and the grinding mechanism was taken over by a diesel engine. By Royal Decree of May 28, 1962, the mill was protected as a monument. In 1966, the mill was first restored by J. Caers from Retie according to plans by Jozef Schellekens, and in 1979, under the direction of architect Lou Jansen, a second time by the Caers brothers. In 1989, the municipality purchased the mill and had restoration work carried out in 1993 – 1994 and maintenance work in 1996. In 2008, Thomaes Molenbouw from Beveren-Roeselare renewed the gallery, and in 2019 – 2020, a new horse mill was built based on the West Flemish model.

Link: Inventory of Immovable Heritage