Koutermolen

The Koutermolen, a wooden grain mill from the end of the 18th century, is in its fourth life. It is now in the provincial domain De Gavers, where you can visit it every second Sunday of the month. It has been protected as a monument since 1944.

The first Koutermolen was built in Stasegem at the end of the 18th century. In 1892 it goes up in flames, but miraculously a mill is for sale in Deerlijk - the miller has already completely disassembled it. The parts are brought to Stasegem and reassembled.

During the First World War, the Germans demolished that second mill to make way for an airfield. After the war, the parts turned out to be too damaged to be able to serve, but a happy coincidence is that - again in Deerlijk - another mill is for sale. It moves to Stasegem and becomes the third Koutermolen. It served until 1948, and continued to run regularly until 1968, but then began to decline.

In 1978, the province of West Flanders bought the mill for a symbolic franc, and the restoration followed in the early 1980s. The fourth Koutermolen moves to the provincial domain De Gavers, not far from its original location. Volunteers now maintain the mill and run it occasionally.

The provincial domain is also a great place for a day out with the children: you can walk, cycle, swim and much more.

Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden