De Tomp, windmill in Achel, Belgium
De Tomp is a 15th-century windmill in Hamont-Achel, Belgium, preserved as a protected monument. The structure features a circular brick tower with thick walls and stands on slightly elevated ground surrounded by marshy terrain.
De Tomp was built in the early 15th century, likely by the lords of Grevenbroek for grain milling. After storm damage in 1596 and repairs, it fell into disuse around 1630 when a new wooden mill replaced it.
De Tomp was once central to the community's daily life, serving as a place where grain was ground and people earned their living. The structure shows how locals used wind power and relied on milling for their survival.
The site is accessed by a wooden footbridge and sits in a quiet natural setting with paths for walking and exploring. The ground is flat and marshy, so waterproof shoes are recommended, especially during wet weather.
For decades, the structure was mistaken for a castle tower ruin until experts in the 1990s identified it as a grain mill by comparing it with similar mills from the same period. This misidentification even led to an incorrect restoration in the 1960s.
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