Wachtebeke (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Mola Mill Centre in Puyenburg Castle, Wachtebeke, will be renovated until March 6, 2026. David Coppens highlights its 50th anniversary, 5 mills, and focus on mill heritage and research.
As VRT News reported, the Mola Mill Centre at the Puyenbroeck Provincial Estate in Wachtebeke, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, will undergo major renovations in the coming months. The centre preserves the region’s long history of milling, which has been central to Flemish and Dutch farming culture for centuries.
What renovations are planned for Wachtebeke’s Mola Mill centre before 2026?
In 2026, it will mark its 50th anniversary, celebrating fifty years of preserving culture. At the same time, Puyenbroeck Castle within the estate will also be renovated. The work will improve the castle’s appearance and overall visitor experience.
“There will be a new reception desk, and the library will be modernised,”
says David Coppens (N-VA), deputy for Heritage.
“The library is currently nothing more than a few shelves and books,” says Coppens. “But we want to make it a true documentation centre. To achieve that, the library needs to look a bit more modern and professional.”
The province of East Flanders is turning the Mola Mill Centre into a documentation and research centre. The aim is to make it the main expert on mill heritage in the region. The centre will not only show the history of mills to visitors but also collect records, document techniques, and support research. Coppens, an expert involved in the project, says preserving mill heritage is very important.
“It’s a quintessential element of our Flemish landscape,”
says the deputy.
“Mills, by the way, were also invented in the County of Flanders,”
says Coppens.
“They are the mother of mechanics. With mills, you can make the most delicious flour in the world; they also serve as a reference point in our landscape and in our history.”
The Mola Mill Centre, located in Puyenburg Castle, will remain closed until March 6, 2026. The centre also manages 5 historic mills across East Flanders. These mills are kept operational and open for educational visits.
The Mola Mill Centre was founded in 1976 in Puyenburg Castle to preserve the milling heritage of East Flanders. Mills have been an important part of Flemish and Dutch agriculture since the Middle Ages. They were not just used to grind grain but also served as economic and social hubs for local communities.
