Deer tree mill or Zeppos mill

Here is the famous windmill called "Hertboommolen". That name is already mentioned in a cijnsboek from 1391.

In the Middle Ages, Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Lombeek was a well-known place of pilgrimage. So many people came that four mills were needed to grind enough grain and feed the pilgrims. The Hertsboommolen is the only remaining mill.

The windmill was used in the 60s in the popular television series Captain Zeppos. To this he owes his nickname "the Zeppos mill". A plaque here honours the actor Senne Rouffaer, alias Captain Zeppos...

Another nickname is "the Tragic Mill" because there have been two tragedies in history.

In 1745 the mill was broken into on New Year's Day and the miller Pieter van Lierde was stabbed to death by some guys who later joined the notorious gang of Jan de Lichte. The gang members also wanted to stab Van Lierde's wife, but the knife fell on the woman's corset and the crooks got scared: they thought the woman was a witch!

And on Sunday, April 22, 1917, around 7 p.m., six masked men committed a robbery in the miller's home. A daughter of the miller, his sister, Leonie Walraevens and the miller's servant, Emiel Vervenne, were brutally murdered... However, Theophile, the miller himself, was spared by his repentant robber...

The robbers were spotted the same day at a fair nearby and arrested a few days later...

The mill was already protected in 1944 and had several restorations. In 2001-2002 the mill was restored and is now running at full speed again.

Wizpr.guide