Description:
's Hertogenmolens (literally "the Duke.s Mills") in Aarschot, a town near Louvain and Brussels, is an unique Flemish water mill. It was built in 1505 by Willem of Croy, Lord of Aarschot and one of the most powerful noblemen in the Burgundian Empire. This daring building with stepped gables and regular gables, roofed with natural slate saddle roofs, is unique in Western Europe, unique because it spans the artificial branch of the Demer river completely and includes its own lock structure. After eight years of intense preparation, the city of Aarschot, in co-operation with private partners and the government have succeeded in letting one of the most important industrial monument of Flanders shine again in all its glory from 12 June onwards. It is the exceptional merit of the restoration project that the building can again be used whith an important added economic value (viz. brasserie-hotel), and in a way that is not only useful, but primarily respects the cultural and historical value of the monument. The restoration of 's Hertogenmolens can also pride itself on saving this neglected top monument from decline and laying the groundworks for a dynamic development and opening up of the enitire northern side of the city Aarschot. It had also been a driving force behind several projects that are of vital importance to the city.