Starting point | Watermolen Bels Restaurant - Mander

Watermolen Bels is located a short distance from Ootmarsum and is an excellent starting point for a cycling tour. The site offers parking, bicycle racks and charging facilities for e-bikes. From the main building, visitors can enjoy views of one of the oldest mill sites in the region.

The history of this location dates back to 1725, when a paper mill was built here. As paper production became less profitable, the owner, Mrs Meyer, commissioned a second mill for roasting chicory, a popular coffee substitute. In 1860, her son converted the mill into a corn mill.

In 1916, the complex was acquired by Jannes Bels. The original paper mill, now the building on the right, was also converted into a corn mill, while the overshot waterwheel was replaced by a turbine. The mill still bears the family's name today.

Since 1957, the entire site has been owned by the Overijssels Landschap Foundation. The mills, farm buildings and surrounding land have all been restored. The former outbuilding now houses an exhibition about the windmills and watermills of Overijssel.