The Grazenmolen, nearly 800 years of medieval pole technology

When we walk through the meadow with a few fruit trees, through the gate to the yard, we are surprised by an intimate atmosphere. We are here at the Grazenmolen. This was built on the Melsterbeek. This brook was once called the Laerbeek. That is why it is also referred to as the Laerbeekmolen. But the mill has other names that summarize its history in a nutshell. It was also called Rummenmolen when it stood on the other side of the road in the territory of Rummen. And the name 'molen van Oriente' refers to the owner, the abbey of Orienten, about a kilometer to the south.

Although watermills existed in Flanders as early as the 7th and 8th centuries, the technology would improve particularly during the 11th and 12th centuries, and the local lords and monasteries would build watermills in large numbers. At the same time, the overshot watermill was developed. We know that as early as 1234 a mill was present in the vicinity of this place in Rummen because 1234 is the year that this mill was half donated to the Abbey of Oriënten by knight Libert (alias Berton), lord of Grazen1. This mill was then called the Laermolen. But the mill would not remain there. The abbey made efforts to organize the water network more efficiently. The Melsterbeek was straightened between the abbey and the mill. This happened with the permission of knight Jan, the son of Libert, on the condition that the landowners would not suffer damage. The Laermolen was demolished in 1269 and a new mill was built on the canalized brook. This became the Grazenmolen. It remained the property of the abbey for the following centuries.

In 1796, the abbey was disbanded and the mill was publicly sold to private individuals in 1798 along with 12 acres of land. As often happened, this 'black asset' was bought by wealthy townspeople. In this case, the Brussels notary Petrus Josephus Cappuyns became the new owner for 8400 F. After the fall of Napoleon in 1815, the mill and 5 ha of land came into the hands of the Brussels resident Joannes Vanderhoeft.

Millers had a reputation for being rich and deceitful. It should not surprise us that his son and miller Jacobus was mayor of Grazen for a long time. For more than 150 years, the mill remained in the hands of this family.

In 1958, the Surface Water Service exerted pressure on all owners of watermills to switch to a different power source than the watercourse or to improve the lock system. The water rights were then bought for a lot of money from many mill owners by the State. But the Grazenmolen retained its rights and did not modernize.

Until 1970, the mill was still in operation under miller Edmond Cappuyns. The operation effectively stopped in 1975 when the large metal mid-shaft was removed and sold as scrap metal. The mill mechanism was still intact in 1988. The Charlier-Spruyt family was the owner at that time.

In 1994, the mill was classified as a monument.

The mill has always been a grain mill.

Jan Rymenams