Briekenmolen

Briekenmolen or 'Brikkemolen'

According to tradition, the mill was built in 1783 by the Van Elslande family.
The name Briekenmolen was probably given to the mill from the time of construction. After all, it is a brick scaffolding mill. In 1840 the street after the mill already called the Briquemolenstraat (part of the Koestraat).

The mill was equipped with 2 pairs of oil crushing stones, 3 pairs of grindstones and an oat letter. In the course of time, all kinds of tools have been running in the mill: swing mills, flax crushers, a sawing machine, a grinding stone, a small threshing machine,... all powered by the mill.

During the Second World War, the occupier put the seals on the mill. In 1946 the last miller, also a fireworks maker, Pierre Hebben left the mill. With that, the decline had begun.

The mill has been a protected monument since 10 December 1947. The outbuildings, of more recent date, are not protected. In 1965 the entire complex was purchased by the Stasegem brewery, which installed a restaurant dancing in it. In 1979, the town of Wervik acquired the mill and outbuildings. The scaffolding was built at the time the restaurant and the dancing were set up, so that a ground floor has now been created around the mill.
The restoration file went through a long administrative agony. It was not until 20 January 1987 that the restoration works could be put out to tender.

The mill has now been restored. Its outbuildings house the Tobacco Museum.

Additional information:
-Accessible for disabled people

Contact details:
- Briekenmolen
- Koestraat 83, 8940 Wervik
- Phone: +32 56 31 49 29
- Email: toerisme@werkvik.be
- Web: www.nationaaltabaksmuseum.be

- Open during the opening hours of the Tobacco Museum

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