Mill ter Rijst - Herzele

The Mill Ter Rijst is an impressive stone so-called top-cruiser or ground sailer that was built in 1794 by order of Bernard Van Daelem .

Due to financial difficulties he had to sell the unfinished mill to Frans Van Den Brulle , who completed the construction. In 1836 the mill came into the hands of Armand De Graeve , from a miller's family from Mere. The mill remained in the possession of this family until 1909 .

The inner diameter of the brick tub is 8.40 metres at the bottom. At the very top this is still 4.80 metres. The tub, whose walls are almost a metre thick at the bottom , has a height of 10.60 metres. The total height of the mill is 14 metres. The sails have a length of 24 metres.

In 1974 the mill was protected as a monument. After a period of decay it was completely restored in 2007-2009 by the municipality of Herzele. Since then the mill has been operational again and is maintained by a team of volunteer millers.

A striking feature is the weather vane in the shape of a mule on the mill cap, symbolizing infertility . Since its existence, the mill has never been passed from father to son. No child was ever born in the miller's family ; no child has ever been born in the 200-year-old mill house.

willem vandenameele