Bouwel is a ''

deelgemeente A (, literally ''sub-municipality''), or section (), is a subdivision of a municipality in Belgium and, until March 2014, in the Netherlands as well. Belgium Each municipality in Belgium that existed as a separate entity on 1 January 1961 bu ...

'' in the Belgian province of

Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...

; it is attached to the

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

Grobbendonk Grobbendonk () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp (). The municipality comprises the towns of Bouwel and Grobbendonk proper. In 2021, Grobbendonk had a total population of 11,249. The total area is 28.36 km2. The ...

. The village was first mentioned in 994 or 997 as Odlobolo. Bouwel used to be owned by the Lords of

until 1487, when it became an independent ''

heerlijkheid A ''heerlijkheid'' (a Dutch language, Dutch word; pl. ''heerlijkheden''; also called ''heerschap''; Latin: ''Dominium'') was a landed estate that served as the lowest administrative and Judiciary, judicial unit in rural areas in the Dutch-speaking ...

''. The domain of the Bouwelhof Castle covered the northern eastern part of Bouwel. Bouwel was an independent municipality until 1977 when it became part of

. The

grist mill A gristmill (also: grist mill, corn mill, flour mill, feed mill or feedmill) grinds cereal grain into flour and Wheat middlings, middlings. The term can refer to either the grinding mechanism or the building that holds it. Grist is grain that h ...

Molen van Bouwen is a wooden windmill. The first windmill was built between 1789 and 1791, but set on fire in October 1914. In 1925, a new windmill was built. In November 1940, a sail was lost in a storm, and no longer in service after the war. In 1973, it was restored. Even though it is used as a holiday home, the wind mill is regularly in service and grinds grain.

Gallery

File:Rentmeesterwoning De Snippelingen.jpg , Land agent residence File:Molen van bouwen veraf.jpg, Windmill Molen van Bouwen File:Bouwel Parochiekerk.jpg, Assumption of Mary Church File:Grobbendonk Het Park 1 - 151523 - onroerenderfgoed.jpg, Bouwelhof Castle

References

Former municipalities of Antwerp Province Grobbendonk Populated places in Antwerp Province {{Antwerp-geo-stub