Leonardusmolen, Maasbracht

The Leonardusmolen in the Limburg town of Maasbracht is a belt mill built between 1864 and 1867 and serving as a wind-powered corn mill until 1947.

After suffering some war damage in 1946 due to grenade impacts close to the hull, which was however repaired, the mill was again severely damaged in 1947 when the axle housing of the upper shaft broke off after the outer rod had struck the mill hill. Because of the costs, repair was abandoned and milling was continued electrically until 1973.

Around 1987, efforts were made to restore the mill to its former glory, which had been severely decimated by urban expansion and was now well within the built-up area. In 1997 the restoration was completed and on June 17, 2000 the mill was officially put back into use. The mill now has 1 pair of grinding stones.

The mill has a round, brick-built body with a wooden cap covered with roofing membrane and has a flight of 26.30 meters. The sails are in old-Dutch shape manufactured in 1992 by "Derckx" and the cast iron upper shaft with a length of 5.53 meters was made in 1877 by "De Prins van Oranje" for the former Oranjemolen in Lewedorp which was dismantled in 1973. The mill is equipped with an English wheelbarrow with 30 rolls and a cross winch and a Flemish catch. The height of the belt is 2.90 meters.