Hondzocht Windmill, Historic windmill in Tubize, Belgium
The Moulin d'Hondzocht is a historic windmill in Tubize, Belgium, near the village of Saintes, listed as a protected heritage property in Wallonia. It has the typical shape of mills from the 1770s, with a solid stone base, a wooden body, and large sails designed to catch the wind and drive the grinding mechanism inside.
The mill was built in the 1770s and served local farmers who brought their grain to be ground into flour. It was officially listed as a protected monument in 1994, and a restoration project began in the early 2000s with support from local and regional authorities.
The Moulin d'Hondzocht stands at a crossing point that once marked the boundary between Flanders and Wallonia, giving it a role beyond that of a simple working mill. Today, school groups and local visitors come here to learn about old grain-processing techniques and the rural life that shaped this part of Belgium.
The mill is easy to spot from the road and fits well into a walk or bike ride through the rural area around Tubize. Restoration work may limit access to some parts of the site, so it is worth checking the current situation before planning a visit.
During the Battle of Waterloo, Prince Frédéric of Orange used the mill as a watchtower to follow the movement of nearby armies. Parts of the mechanism and sails are being restored in workshops in the Netherlands before being reinstalled, which is an unusual step for a Belgian monument.
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