De Bakkersmolen
Museum complex in Essen-Wildert with a stellingmolen windmill, a steam engine museum, a craft bakery, a steam train and a tavern.
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About the museum
The Bakkersmolen in Wildert, a district of Essen, is a museum complex built in 1980–1981 on the commission of baker Frans Demedts. He bought a farmstead more than two centuries old on the Sint-Jansstraat and had a new stellingmolen windmill built next to it. Construction began on 4 June 1980; the body is 17 metres high and the cap was put in place on 15 June 1981. The rotating sail cross reaches a height of about 32 metres. More than 280,000 reclaimed bricks were used for the masonry.
Next to the mill a steam engine museum grew up, with large and small machines from industrial heritage. In the former barn there is a bakery with a wood-fired oven and more than a thousand authentic baking tools. The bakery's machines are driven by an English Marshall steam locomobile from 1903. Behind the mill, in season, a wood-fired steam train runs around the grounds.
The complex was officially opened on 8 May 1981. The mill is in operation every Sunday all year round, and in 2020 it received a new metal mill frame because the wooden gallery had worn out. Today the site combines the museum and the bakery with a tavern with a playground, which also welcomes groups.
Highlights
- Stellingmolen from 1981, in operation every Sunday all year round
- Steam engine museum with working machines from industrial heritage
- Bakery with wood-fired oven and Marshall steam locomobile from 1903
- Wood-fired steam train around the mill on Sundays in season
- Playground with trampoline and tavern
Permanent exhibitions
- Stoommachinemuseum – Behind the mill, a collection of large and small steam engines from industrial heritage shows how steam engines work, their history and their development.
- Stellingmolen en bakkerij – The 1981 mill and the traditional bakery with a wood-fired oven show how grain is turned into bread.
- Founded
- 1981
Admission & discounts
| Groups | –For groups of fewer than 20 people, a guided tour of the steam engine museum costs €40. |
|---|---|
| Guided tour of the steam engine museum (per person) | €2You can also visit the steam engine museum without a guide. |
The website does not list a general admission price for the museum. Payment can be made with Payconiq.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
- Playground / play area
For the youngest there is a large playground with a trampoline; for young and old there is the steam train around the mill.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Very spacious car park, including for coaches.
Amenities & dining
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
The tavern (brasserie) serves meals and also provides coffee spreads for groups; reserve tables via 03 677 22 67. In the bakery you can buy mill bread, gingerbread, speculaas and gift baskets with Bakkersmolen beers.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The steam engine museum behind the mill can be visited with or without a guide. Groups put together their own programme; there is a very spacious car park for coaches. |
