Windmolen De Nieuwe Papegaai

The new parrot

06/2023 The windmill De Nieuwe Papegaai stands picturesquely at the Bruger Kruisvest, where remnants of the historic city wall, waterways, and expansive green spaces combine to form a tranquil edge of the old town. The current mill was built in 1975 as a reconstruction of an older predecessor that stood on this site as early as the 18th century. Its unusual name – The New Parrot – stems from a tradition of giving mills memorable, often animal-related, nicknames to make them easier to distinguish within the cityscape. Thus, this mill carries on a piece of local identity and recalls Bruges' long milling history, which continues to shape the cityscape today.