Nederland - Leiden, De Valk

Windmill De Valk (The Falcon) is the third mill built at this location. In 1611 a postmill was built, which was replaced in 1667 by a wooden post mill. The current tower mill is dating back to the year of 1743.

The new, stone flour mill had to accommodate two families and had to be high enough - it is one of the tallest windmills in the country - to rise above the houses in its surroundings in order to catch enough wind. The ground floor and the additional building contained the kitchens, living areas and stable of the two houses. The sleeping rooms where located on the first and second floor, while the third served as storage room. The milling activities took place in the spaces located from the fourth floor (14 meters) to the top of the mill (29 meters).

After the death of the last miller, the mill became a museum in 1966. Nowadays
De Valk houses a museum offering an overview of its history, as well as the function of windmills in the Netherlands. It also has the only original miller’s house in the Netherlands.