Les MoulinsWitnesses to ancestral know-how

Les Moulins

Plunge into the heart of history and heritage with our mills, past and present. A blend of traditional craftsmanship and mechanical innovation, these buildings tell the story of the genius of people and places.

Wormhout DESCHODT Mill

The Moulin DESCHODT, or Moulin de la Briarde, is the most authentic of the region’s pivot windmills, the only survivor of the 11 windmills in the commune. They were gradually decimated by the advent of steam-powered flour mills, the passing of laws that were disastrous for the milling industry and the wars.

The transom bears the initials of the two carpenters who built it, Philippe François and Ingelbertus Martin DE SMYTTERE.

Don’t hesitate to visit the mill!

Wormhout Mill — ©Moulin Deschodt or Moulin de la Briarde -Wormhout

Volckerinckhove Le Moulin à Cheval

Since 2010, the commune of Volckerinckhove has had a horse-powered mill, ” Le Rosmeule” or“Rosse Mulle“, built by the Yser Houck association, based on documents found in archives and plans drawn up by ARAM.

This type of small horse-powered mill, once common in Flanders, no longer existed in the region, so the Yser Houck association decided to rebuild it.

Watten Le Moulin de la Montagne

The brick and stone mill dates back to 1731 and was built using materials from the former Watten Abbey, on the site of a wooden mill. Built on the remains of the uncovered fortifications, the mill operated until 1930, losing two wings in a storm in 1937 and being reused as an observatory for the German army in 1940.

Acquired by the municipality in 1985, it was completely renovated with the help of the Association Régionale des Amis des Moulins and the Association des Amis du Vieux Watten et de sa Région. A new roof was installed in 1987, and wings in 1988. A new mechanism was installed in 1994, enabling the mill to grind grain as in the past.

Moulin De La Victoire Hondschoote — ©Moulin De La Victoire or Spinnewyn Mill - Hondschoote

Hondschoote SPINNEWYN Mill

The SPINNEWYN Mill, or Moulin de la Victoire, was erected in 1993 in memory of the gendarmes who took part in the Battle of Hondschoote in 1793.

To mark the bicentenary of the Battle of Hondschoote, it was decided in the early 1990s to rebuild the mill where the gendarmes fought. The SPINNEWYN mill is a windmill on a pivot. Inside, a set of millstones ensures the production of flour, exclusively during local festivals.

Legendr History in your pocket

Discover the mills in a different way, at the pace of your curiosity!

Discover the emblematic mills of Terre de Flandre Tourisme thanks to the Legendr – History in your pocket application. This mobile application, which can be downloaded free of charge from stores, guides you step by step through an immersive journey combining anecdotes, heritage and typical landscapes.

Want to see more? Take a look at our other themed routes, available on the app, to explore the destination from a new angle on every walk.

Legendr application