1. Beukelaere mill

Beukelaremolen protected as a monument by royal decree of 23/04/1974. Already in 1460 there was a mill height near the hamlet "Luigem" ("Ludeghem meulenwalle"). According to the Ferraris map (1770-1778) there was a mill just northwest of the current mill site that bore the name "Noorteynder Meulen". By the middle of the 19th century this mill had been demolished and was located directly opposite the current mill on the other side of the street the "Beukelaer Molen". This name is said to be derived from a nearby beech drive. In addition to "Beukelaer mill", the mill also bore the name "Bussches molen" from that period, named after the Debusschere miller family who worked in the mill from around the beginning of the 18th century. During the First World War, the "Beukelaremolen", like the six other mills of Merkem, was completely destroyed. On the other side of the Rodesteenstraat, directly opposite the rubble of the destroyed "Beukelaremolen", a similar mill was planted in 1923. This mill was formerly located in Poperinge and was called "den koornwindmolen van 't Steentje" or also "Steentje-molen". This mill dates from before 1781 (see inscriptions) and was the only mill that Poperinge had before the outbreak of the First World War. The mill was situated in the hamlet "Steentje" (Poperinge), on the border with Elverdinge (merged municipality of Ypres). After the relocation of the mill to Merkem, it was called, like its predecessor, "Beukelaremolen" and "Bussches molen". The Debusschere family continued to drain this mill until 1958. A year after the protection, the mill was purchased by the municipality and rudimentary repairs were carried out the following year. Between 1982 and 1986 the mill was milled. In 1985 a volunteer miller was appointed and in 1987 the mill was inaugurated. Wooden stake mill consisting of a grinding and stone attic on four brick tars. The hood and wind sweep are covered with wooden shales. The front wheel is attached to the top axle by means of two arms through the axle. The cracked 18th-century stake was reinforced with iron bands during the restoration.

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