Zwalm can rightly boast seven watermills, four of them on the Zwalm river. You will be fascinated by the falling, swirling water, the endless rushing and movement, and the mystery of intricate machinery.
Behind our garden stands the Van der Linden mill, a watermill on the Peerdestokbeek. The present building bears the year 1801 in its wall anchors, but the mill is much older. It once served as a bleachery or "washing mill" for cotton production. The foundations of two guard huts remain in the yard, probably to prevent the theft of laundry. The mill then became an oil mill and only became a grain mill from 1870. In 1887 the buildings were extended to house a steam engine, so that grinding could continue even at low water. The mill was then called the "corn and linseed-cake steam watermill". In the Second World War the steam engine was replaced by a diesel engine.
Our large garden used to be a place where walnut trees ("notelaren") grew. Two of them remain... Oil was once pressed from these nuts in the 'Van der Linden mill'.
| The watermills of Zwalm: | |
| The Biestmolen | The Biestmolen remained in operation as a grain mill until the 1970s. In 2008 the interior of the mill building was completely renovated and turned into the restaurant "Ter Biestmolen". Much of its rural character and machinery was made visible again. |
| The Vander Linden mill | The Vander Linden mill is a privately owned mill on the Peerdestokbeek, which flows into the Zwalm 200 m further on. |
| The Pedesmolen | The little Pedes mill in Hundelgem was fully restored in 2001. |
| The Zwalmmolen | The Zwalm mill is to be restored further. The miller's farmhouse, opposite the mill building, houses the restaurant "De Zwalmmolen". |
| The Bostmolen | In Roborst, on a small village square, you will find the Bostmolen. It was recently renovated and is now run as the restaurant "De Bostmolen". |
| The Moldergem mill | In Sint-Denijs-Boekel, on the famous Molenberg, you will find the Moldergem mill, now home to the restaurant "De Mechelse Koekoek". |
| The IJzerkot mill | The IJzerkot mill is a working watermill that you can usually visit on Sunday mornings or by appointment. The adjoining buildings house the restaurant "De Ijzerkotmolen". |
Looking for more information about the Zwalm mills? Have a look at Geert's site or Didier's site.
Food for thought: the Zwalm is officially called "Zwalmbeek" (Zwalm brook). But is it a brook?