Slagmolen Watermill Genk

This water mill on the Stiemerbeek was built in 1523 as a fulling mill where the woven cloth was 'fulled'.
From 1645 it was a book mill and then a beating mill. From 1843, a grain mill was also operated here, which was renovated in 1899 and remained in operation until 1955.
Completely restored, the building was reopened as an inn in 1966 and in December 1987 the mill could be used again for the first time.
A visit to the tastefully decorated barroom is highly recommended.
Source: hiking guide: GR 5/E2 North Sea - Riviera - route to the low countries

The Slagmolen, located on the road of the same name in Genk, is an underslung water mill that was built transversely to the Stiemerbeek. A fulling mill was built here around 1523 by Hasselt weavers and in 1834 it was converted into a flour mill after being repurposed in 1612 for pressing oil and as a book mill. The immediate surroundings of the Slagmolen as well as part of the Stiemerbeek and part of the Slagmolenweg with bridge were protected as a village view for reasons of industrial-archaeological value. The water mill, including the mill building, water wheel, locks and the complete milling installation with accessories, was protected as a monument for the same reason. The Slagmolen was purchased by Toerisme Vlaanderen in 2020 and will become the visitor center for nature reserves De Maten and the Vallei van de Stiemerbeek. At the front of the building you can see what it will look like after a fairly major renovation. You can also find these plans (where the works are intended to start in early 2024) at toistourvlaanderen.be/nl/nieuws/bouwspelen-spelenscentrum-de-maten-slagmolen

Source of mill history: molenechos.org/molen.php?AdvSearch=13

@JP and @Els: nothing to add 🙂