Did you know the Humboldtmühle in Berlin boasts a history stretching back to 1361? That’s right. This wasn’t just any mill. It started as a humble watermill. Its location on the Tegeler Fließ gave it prime importance for Tegel. In fact almost half of Tegel’s tax revenue came from this mill by 1375. People from Heiligensee Hermsdorf Dalldorf and Reinickendorf all travelled to the Humboldtmühle using paths often called “Mühlenweg”. The Margrave sold the mill in 1361. It later belonged to the Spandau Benedictine convent. After the Reformation the mill became part of the Tegel estate. Around 1580 a saw mill was added to the Humboldtmühle.
The Humboldtmühle changed hands several times. In 1693 the mill and the estate were separated. Elector Frederick III bought the Humboldtmühle and then auctioned it off. It eventually ended up back in the hands of the estate owners. By 1776 Alexander Georg von Humboldt owned it. With the abolition of milling regulations and the introduction of freedom of trade in Prussia in 1810 things changed. The Humboldtmühle faced competition. It was once one of the largest of eleven watermills in Niederbarnim. It burned down in 1834 but was rebuilt by its owner Treskow.
Enter Johann Gottfried Thießen and Karl Friedrich Henning. They bought the Humboldtmühle in 1847 and revolutionized it. In 1848 they installed a powerful 20 horsepower steam engine. This turned the Humboldtmühle into a steam mill. In 1851 they deepened the Tegeler Fließ. This created a navigable connection to Lake Tegel. Then in 1887 entrepreneurs Cohn & Rosenberg took over. They expanded the Humboldtmühle into a large mill calling it “Humboldt-Mühle”. It became a limited company in 1893. The saw mill was probably abandoned around 1910.
A devastating fire hit in 1912. Most buildings were destroyed. The mill building still standing today was built in 1913. It’s located along the Schlossstraße now known as “An der Mühle”. A 100 horsepower steam engine was installed boosting daily output to 180 tons. The Humboldtmühle was a mid-sized mill for Berlin. There was a rail connection to the Tegel goods station. This closed in 1978/80. The Victoria-Mühlwerke joined the Humboldtmühle AG in 1924. They fully integrated it into their company in 1930. They ran the Humboldtmühle until it closed in 1988.
Another major fire struck in 1937 destroying the grain silo. A new one was built from 1939-40. This impressive structure survives to this day. The Humboldtmühle survived World War II unscathed. It became crucial for supplying West Berlin. They doubled daily output to 360 tons using multiple shifts. The workforce grew to 105 employees but later reduced to 60. They switched to external power. In 1964 an automated electric flour silo and packaging system improved efficiency. Grain arrived by truck and ship. A new canal built in 1987 connected the Humboldtmühle to the Tegeler Hafen allowing 1000-ton barges to access it.
Before closing in 1988 the Humboldtmühle processed 350 tons of grain daily. This was ground in 21 wheat and 11 rye mills. The new bagging machine could fill 6100 one-kilogram bags per hour. Rising labor costs and outdated technology made the Humboldtmühle unprofitable. It closed in 1988. Entrepreneur Ernst Freiberger bought the site. From 1989-1992 he transformed it into an office and hotel complex. Today this historic Humboldtmühle is a specialized clinic. It stands as a testament to Berlin’s industrial past. It’s a fascinating mix of old and new architecture a true landmark of Tegel.