Egelsbergmühle, Tower windmill in Traar, Krefeld, Germany

The Egelsbergmühle is a masonry tower windmill of Dutch design on the 46-metre Egelsberg hill in Krefeld. Its wooden shingle cap tops a brick tower, and its four sails span 19.5 metres. The original milling machinery remains inside.

Construction of the Egelsbergmühle began at the end of the 18th century and it was completed and put into operation in 1802. In 1930 the mill was converted from wind to motor power and used as a grain mill until 1942. Artillery fire damaged it considerably in March 1945; after the war the sails and shingle cap were restored and the bullet holes bricked up. The city of Krefeld acquired it in 1954 and had the mill head rebuilt.

The mill is depicted on the coat of arms of the Traar district. Today it opens on selected days for author readings, art exhibitions and weddings, and the historic milling machinery inside is still preserved.

The windmill opens to visitors during scheduled events such as art exhibitions and author readings throughout the year. Check local event calendars ahead of your visit, as regular public access to the interior is limited to these occasions.

Since 1980 the mill has been illuminated during evening hours and glows across the landscape. This lighting transformed it into a widely visible landmark that can be seen from many parts of the surrounding area.