Tongerlo (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Keyartmolen in Tongerlo, built in 1139, is being restored for €150,000. Owner Gert Zeelmaekers plans to turn it into Keyart Distillery, preserving its heritage.
The Keyartmolen of Tongerlo, Antwerp province, Belgium, a quite old watermill, is getting restored. Long neglected, the place is being attended to nowadays. They are repairing the roof, walls, and wooden framework so it can last even longer.
They’re also fixing the machines inside the mill so they can work again. It costs 150,000 euros to fix the mill, and the government is paying 40% of that cost because they think it’s important to keep old buildings like this.
“For centuries, mills were the engines of our prosperity,”
says Wets.
“Today, they are still popular landmarks. A beautiful old mill appeals to almost everyone.”
Is Tongerlo’s 900-year-old Keyartmolen set for a new life?
The owner of the Keyartmolen, Gert Zeelmaekers, wants to do more than just fix it up. He wants to turn it into a small distillery called Keyart Distillery. He said that this will serve to keep the history of the mill alive and make it a place where individuals can come and have fun with locally produced beverages.
He says,
“We are very much looking forward to bringing this historic place back to life and transforming it into a vibrant meeting place.”
The Keyartmolen at Tongerlo is an old watermill dating back many centuries. It first appeared in writing in 1139 and remained in the ownership of a single family for 500 years. The mill played a significant role in the regional economy.
In 1635, a Spanish soldier bought the mill. After that, many different people owned the mill. Each miller added to the mill’s story. During the 1800s, the mill was reconstructed and fortified with stone and brick rather than wood. The modification ensured the mill lasted longer, and to this day, it remains there.
