diff --git a/BGL/include/CGAL/boost/graph/METIS/partition_dual_graph.h b/BGL/include/CGAL/boost/graph/METIS/partition_dual_graph.h
index 53f8968f86f..9a217389d82 100644
--- a/BGL/include/CGAL/boost/graph/METIS/partition_dual_graph.h
+++ b/BGL/include/CGAL/boost/graph/METIS/partition_dual_graph.h
@@ -116,8 +116,8 @@ void partition_dual_graph(const TriangleMesh& tm,
   delete[] eptr;
   delete[] eind;
 
-  std::free(npart);
-  std::free(epart);
+  (std::free)(npart);
+  (std::free)(epart);
 }
 
 template<typename TriangleMesh, typename NamedParameters>
diff --git a/BGL/include/CGAL/boost/graph/METIS/partition_graph.h b/BGL/include/CGAL/boost/graph/METIS/partition_graph.h
index 08926a64116..42f8c240f01 100644
--- a/BGL/include/CGAL/boost/graph/METIS/partition_graph.h
+++ b/BGL/include/CGAL/boost/graph/METIS/partition_graph.h
@@ -151,8 +151,8 @@ void partition_graph(const TriangleMesh& tm,
   delete[] eptr;
   delete[] eind;
 
-  std::free(npart);
-  std::free(epart);
+  (std::free)(npart);
+  (std::free)(epart);
 }
 
 template<typename TriangleMesh, typename NamedParameters>
diff --git a/CGAL_Core/include/CGAL/CORE/ExprRep.h b/CGAL_Core/include/CGAL/CORE/ExprRep.h
index 0e721dda16a..a325930a2ab 100644
--- a/CGAL_Core/include/CGAL/CORE/ExprRep.h
+++ b/CGAL_Core/include/CGAL/CORE/ExprRep.h
@@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ public:
   }
 
   void operator delete( void *p, size_t ){
-    MemoryPool<ConstPolyRep>::global_allocator().free(p);
+    (MemoryPool<ConstPolyRep>::global_allocator().free)(p);
   }
 
 private:
@@ -1248,7 +1248,7 @@ void * AddSubRep<O>::operator new( size_t size)
 
 template <typename O>
 void AddSubRep<O>::operator delete( void *p, size_t )
-{ MemoryPool<AddSubRep<O> >::global_allocator().free(p); }
+{ (MemoryPool<AddSubRep<O> >::global_allocator().free)(p); }
 
 
 /// \typedef AddRep
diff --git a/CGAL_Core/include/CGAL/CORE/Impl.h b/CGAL_Core/include/CGAL/CORE/Impl.h
index 4ff8b4fa3d4..2e21aab5ac0 100644
--- a/CGAL_Core/include/CGAL/CORE/Impl.h
+++ b/CGAL_Core/include/CGAL/CORE/Impl.h
@@ -51,14 +51,14 @@
     CGAL_INLINE_FUNCTION void *T::operator new( size_t size)             \
     { return MemoryPool<T>::global_allocator().allocate(size); }         \
     CGAL_INLINE_FUNCTION void T::operator delete( void *p, size_t )      \
-    { MemoryPool<T>::global_allocator().free(p); }
+    { (MemoryPool<T>::global_allocator().free)(p); }
   #define CORE_MEMORY_IMPL_TEMPLATE_WITH_ONE_ARG(C)                       \
   template <typename T>                                                   \
   CGAL_INLINE_FUNCTION void *C<T>::operator new( size_t size)             \
   { return MemoryPool<C<T> >::global_allocator().allocate(size); }        \
   template <typename T>                                                   \
   CGAL_INLINE_FUNCTION void C<T>::operator delete( void *p, size_t )      \
-  { MemoryPool<C<T> >::global_allocator().free(p); }
+  { (MemoryPool<C<T> >::global_allocator().free)(p); }
 #endif
 
 // include some common header files
diff --git a/CGAL_Core/include/CGAL/CORE/MemoryPool.h b/CGAL_Core/include/CGAL/CORE/MemoryPool.h
index 2db3de8736e..1cfa96fa93d 100644
--- a/CGAL_Core/include/CGAL/CORE/MemoryPool.h
+++ b/CGAL_Core/include/CGAL/CORE/MemoryPool.h
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ public:
 
 
    void* allocate(std::size_t size);
-   void free(void* p);
+   void free BOOST_PREVENT_MACRO_SUBSTITUTION (void* p);
 
   // Access the corresponding static global allocator.
   static MemoryPool<T,nObjects>& global_allocator() {
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ void* MemoryPool< T, nObjects >::allocate(std::size_t) {
 }
 
 template< class T, int nObjects >
-void MemoryPool< T, nObjects >::free(void* t) {
+void MemoryPool< T, nObjects >::free BOOST_PREVENT_MACRO_SUBSTITUTION (void* t) {
    CGAL_assertion(t != 0);
    if (t == 0) return; // for safety
    if(blocks.empty()){
diff --git a/CGAL_Core/include/CGAL/CORE/RealRep.h b/CGAL_Core/include/CGAL/CORE/RealRep.h
index 1c5d0f13a40..f2ec1e90cb3 100644
--- a/CGAL_Core/include/CGAL/CORE/RealRep.h
+++ b/CGAL_Core/include/CGAL/CORE/RealRep.h
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ void * Realbase_for<T>::operator new( size_t size)
 
 template <class T>
 void Realbase_for<T>::operator delete( void *p, size_t )
-{ MemoryPool<Realbase_for<T> >::global_allocator().free(p); }
+{ (MemoryPool<Realbase_for<T> >::global_allocator().free)(p); }
 
 typedef Realbase_for<long> RealLong;
 typedef Realbase_for<double> RealDouble;
diff --git a/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Feature/Elevation.h b/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Feature/Elevation.h
index 175b20b6a44..9ea9f267cc4 100644
--- a/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Feature/Elevation.h
+++ b/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Feature/Elevation.h
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ public:
           std::nth_element (z.begin(), z.begin() + (z.size() / 10), z.end());
           dtm_x(i,j) = z[z.size() / 10];
         }
-    dem.free();
+    (dem.free)();
 
     if (grid.width() * grid.height() > input.size())
       values.resize (input.size(), compressed_float(0));
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ public:
               values[*it] = v;
           }
         }
-    dtm_x.free();
+    (dtm_x.free)();
 
   }
 
diff --git a/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Feature/Height_above.h b/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Feature/Height_above.h
index b59b108c1ac..3c85d27f91e 100644
--- a/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Feature/Height_above.h
+++ b/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Feature/Height_above.h
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ public:
         std::size_t J = grid.y(i);
         values[i] = float(dtm(I,J) - get (point_map, *(input.begin() + i)).z());
       }
-      dtm.free();
+      (dtm.free)();
     }
 
   }
diff --git a/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Feature/Height_below.h b/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Feature/Height_below.h
index 22371934155..f71195dd348 100644
--- a/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Feature/Height_below.h
+++ b/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Feature/Height_below.h
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ public:
         std::size_t J = grid.y(i);
         values[i] = float(get (point_map, *(input.begin() + i)).z() - dtm(I,J));
       }
-      dtm.free();
+      (dtm.free)();
     }
 
   }
diff --git a/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Feature/Vertical_range.h b/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Feature/Vertical_range.h
index 45b9c98d3ee..a4df1591c13 100644
--- a/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Feature/Vertical_range.h
+++ b/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Feature/Vertical_range.h
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ public:
         std::size_t J = grid.y(i);
         values[i] = dtm(I,J);
       }
-      dtm.free();
+      (dtm.free)();
     }
 
   }
diff --git a/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Image.h b/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Image.h
index 084e9572764..3bd915f0b5d 100644
--- a/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Image.h
+++ b/Classification/include/CGAL/Classification/Image.h
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ public:
   {
   }
 
-  void free()
+  void free BOOST_PREVENT_MACRO_SUBSTITUTION ()
   {
     m_raw.reset();
     m_sparse.reset();
diff --git a/Hash_map/include/CGAL/Hash_map/internal/chained_map.h b/Hash_map/include/CGAL/Hash_map/internal/chained_map.h
index 27e38ee59d5..785443e2bee 100644
--- a/Hash_map/include/CGAL/Hash_map/internal/chained_map.h
+++ b/Hash_map/include/CGAL/Hash_map/internal/chained_map.h
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class chained_map
 
    chained_map_elem<T>* table;
    chained_map_elem<T>* table_end;
-   chained_map_elem<T>* free;
+   chained_map_elem<T>* freelist;
    std::size_t table_size;
    std::size_t table_size_1;
 
@@ -144,10 +144,10 @@ void chained_map<T, Allocator>::init_table(std::size_t n)
     std::allocator_traits<allocator_type>::construct(alloc,table + i);
   }
 
-  free = table + t;
+  freelist = table + t;
   table_end = table + t + t/2;
 
-  for (Item p = table; p < free; ++p)
+  for (Item p = table; p < freelist; ++p)
   { p->succ = nullptr;
     p->k = nullkey;
   }
@@ -161,10 +161,10 @@ inline void chained_map<T, Allocator>::insert(std::size_t x, T y)
     q->k = x;
     q->i = y;
   } else {
-    free->k = x;
-    free->i = y;
-    free->succ = q->succ;
-    q->succ = free++;
+    freelist->k = x;
+    freelist->i = y;
+    freelist->succ = q->succ;
+    q->succ = freelist++;
   }
 }
 
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ T& chained_map<T, Allocator>::access(Item p, std::size_t x)
 
   // index x not present, insert it
 
-  if (free == table_end)   // table full: rehash
+  if (freelist == table_end)   // table full: rehash
   { rehash();
     p = HASH(x);
   }
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ T& chained_map<T, Allocator>::access(Item p, std::size_t x)
     return p->i;
   }
 
-  q = free++;
+  q = freelist++;
   q->k = x;
   init_inf(q->i);    // initializes q->i to xdef
   q->succ = p->succ;
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ chained_map<T, Allocator>::chained_map(const chained_map<T, Allocator>& D)
 {
   init_table(D.table_size);
 
-  for(Item p = D.table; p < D.free; ++p)
+  for(Item p = D.table; p < D.freelist; ++p)
   { if (p->k != nullkey || p >= D.table + D.table_size)
     { insert(p->k,p->i);
       //D.copy_inf(p->i);  // see chapter Implementation
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ chained_map<T, Allocator>::chained_map(chained_map<T, Allocator>&& D)
   noexcept(std::is_nothrow_move_constructible_v<Allocator> && std::is_nothrow_move_constructible_v<T>)
   : table(std::exchange(D.table, nullptr))
   , table_end(std::exchange(D.table_end, nullptr))
-  , free(std::exchange(D.free, nullptr))
+  , freelist(std::exchange(D.freelist, nullptr))
   , table_size(std::exchange(D.table_size, 0))
   , table_size_1(std::exchange(D.table_size_1, 0))
   , alloc(std::move(D.alloc))
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ chained_map<T, Allocator>& chained_map<T, Allocator>::operator=(const chained_ma
 
   init_table(D.table_size);
 
-  for(Item p = D.table; p < D.free; ++p)
+  for(Item p = D.table; p < D.freelist; ++p)
   { if (p->k != nullkey || p >= D.table + D.table_size)
     { insert(p->k,p->i);
       //copy_inf(p->i);    // see chapter Implementation
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ chained_map<T, Allocator>& chained_map<T, Allocator>::operator=(chained_map<T, A
 
   table = std::exchange(D.table, nullptr);
   table_end = std::exchange(D.table_end, nullptr);
-  free = std::exchange(D.free, nullptr);
+  freelist = std::exchange(D.freelist, nullptr);
   table_size = std::exchange(D.table_size, 0);
   table_size_1 = std::exchange(D.table_size_1, 0);
   alloc = std::move(D.alloc);
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ void chained_map<T, Allocator>::statistics() const
   std::size_t n = 0;
   for (Item p = table; p < table + table_size; ++p)
      if (p ->k != nullkey) ++n;
-  std::size_t used_in_overflow = free - (table + table_size );
+  std::size_t used_in_overflow = freelist - (table + table_size );
   n += used_in_overflow;
   std::cout << "number of entries: " << n << "\n";
   std::cout << "fraction of entries in first position: " <<
diff --git a/Installation/include/CGAL/config.h b/Installation/include/CGAL/config.h
index 3506137af1a..ff437a7f444 100644
--- a/Installation/include/CGAL/config.h
+++ b/Installation/include/CGAL/config.h
@@ -37,6 +37,13 @@
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CGAL_INCLUDE_WINDOWS_DOT_H
+
+#if defined(_MSC_VER) && defined(_DEBUG)
+// Include support for memory leak detection
+// This is only available in debug mode and when _CRTDBG_MAP_ALLOC is defined.
+// It will include <crtdbg.h> which will redefine `malloc` and `free`.
+#  define _CRTDBG_MAP_ALLOC 1
+#endif
 // Mimic users including this file which defines min max macros
 // and other names leading to name clashes
 #include <windows.h>