Heimatmuseum Windmühle Reken

About the museum

The tower windmill on the Mühlenberg in Groß Reken is one of the oldest and most beautiful of its kind in Westphalia. Construction began around 1775; the stones came from quarries in the Hohe Mark, and the work stretched over about 20 winters. In 1807 the mill received approval as a grain and groats mill, and it operated until 1945. The tower has 1.50-meter-thick foundation walls and is 12 meters tall; the sails span 22 meters.

After a thorough renovation, the Heimatverein Reken set up a museum in the mill. Its main theme is "Vom Säen zum Ernten" (from sowing to harvest): many of the tools and machines on display were in use until 1945. There are also household and craft items showing how large households were supplied without modern appliances. Since 1998, civil weddings have also been held on the ground floor.

Around the mill, a small open-air museum has developed, including a bake house ("Backhus"), a beehouse ("Immenschur"), a cooling well ("Pütthus") and a granary ("Museschoppe") raised on trapezoid stones to protect it from rodents, with a farmhouse parlor (Bauernstube). Because damage was found to the sail shaft, the turning gear, the sails and other mill machinery, the mill remains closed for extensive repairs.

Highlights

• Tower windmill on the Mühlenberg, visible from afar
• Farm equipment "Vom Säen zum Ernten"
• Household and craft items up to 1945
• Small open-air area with bake house and beehouse
• Civil weddings on the ground floor

Permanent exhibition

• Vom Säen zum Ernten – Local history museum on farming, household and crafts up to 1945 in the tower windmill; currently not accessible due to renovation.

Founded

1972

Operated by

Heimatverein Reken

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The windmill stands on a hill (Mühlenberg) in Groß Reken and is visible from far away.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Civil weddings on the ground floor of the mill (since 1998); not possible during renovation.

Plan your visit