From Kleine Hofmolen to St.-Katarinamolen
The St.-Katarinamolen stood on the St.-Katarinastraat, between the Dorrenberg and Nijpezele, the first mill after the border with Zaventem. It was originally called the Cleyne Molen of Nijpezele or the little manor mill, because it belonged to the lords of Diegem. The name St.-Katarinamolen probably dates only from the early 17th century, when the lady of the castle, Catharina Oudart, wanted to see her name everywhere: the church took Saint Catherine as patron, the Invalstraat became the St.-Katarinastraat and a new church bell was named Catharina.
The Ferraris map (1777) shows a 'Taufmeulen' here. The Austrian cartographer probably just wrote down what he heard, the dialect word 't Hofmeulen. Others think rather of the neighbouring Duivenmolen.
Oil, chicory and beer
The mill often changed owner and purpose. In the 17th century gunpowder mills appeared in the area, and in 1671 two were counted here: the Duivenmolen and probably the St.-Katarinamolen. In the 18th century it became an oil mill again. From 1834 Philippus Vander Elst was the owner; his family pressed oil there for the lamps of Brussels and for the army, and in 1846 the mill was also registered as a chicory factory.
In 1887 the family was given permission to add a brewery with a tall chimney; Albert Ermens and then Hendrik Ermens were the brewers. Between the two world wars the brewery closed and Norbert De Tollenaere started a mushroom farm there. The mill disappeared after 1945. The empty buildings were demolished in 1974 for the new Diegem interchange.