Nederland: wind- en watermolens

The oldest written mention of the Oostendorper watermolen (Oostendorp watermill) - a corn and oil mill on the Buurserbeek - is found in a deed from 1487. The mill was then located about 1 km downstream. In 1547-1548, the double mill was rebuilt at its current location. It also received its current name then, which comes from Johan ten Oostendorp who was the miller in 1547. During the Eighty Years' War (1566 - 1648), the water mill was destroyed. In 1633, Willem Ripperda tot Weldam received permission to build the Oostendorper mill on the current site. Two years later, the mills were back in operation. During the next two centuries, they passed from one owner to another several times, by inheritance or by sale. In 1946, a flood of water washed away the oil mill; it had been rebuilt four years later. In the late 1980s, the Oostendorper watermolen was thoroughly restored and made millable again. Volunteer millers regularly grind grain and crush oil. The municipality of Haaksbergen owns the mill. It is the oldest double water mill in the Netherlands.

The history of the ‘De Hoop Mill’ in Harderwijk can be traced back to 1621, when the first mill was built. The original mill, located at a different location, burned down in 1969. The restoration - on its present location at the old ‘Vissershaven’ (Fishermen’s harbour) - started in 1992, when an old mill structure was purchased from the eastern town of Oldenzaal. This mill originally came from Weesp and was built in 1773. ‘De Hoop’ (the Hope) was rebuilt and the wings turned again in the year of 1998. A year later the mill was officially reopened and is now open for visitors. More info (Dutch): www.harderwijksemolen.nl

De Helper is a polder mill on the east bank of the Paterswoldsemeer . The mill was built in 1863 south of the city of Groningen for the drainage of the Helpman polder using a screw pump. In the sixties of the 20th century the mill became permanently out of use and fell into disrepair. Because of the expansion of the city of Groningen and the construction of the A28 motorway in 1969 De Helper was demolished at its original location. In 1971 the mill was rebuilt on its present location on the banks of the Paterswoldsemeer . The mill is in operation on a voluntary basis.

Not so long ago I visited windmill The Helper on the shore of the Paterswoldsemeer . On that gray rainy day I decided to come back at another time. That moment came much sooner than expected. Due to the corona crisis, travelling abroad was no longer possible and I was already happy with a trip to this part of my country. Now under totally different circumstances: nice sunny weather with even sunbathing visitors along the water's edge. What a difference with three months ago: www.ipernity.com/doc/294067/49807386 De Helper is a polder mill on the east bank of the Paterswoldsemeer. The mill was built in 1863 south of the city of Groningen for the drainage of the Helpman polder using a screw pump. In the sixties of the 20th century the mill became permanently out of use and fell into disrepair. Because of the expansion of the city of Groningen and the construction of the A28 motorway in 1969 De Helper was demolished at its original location. In 1971 the mill was rebuilt on its present location on the banks of the Paterswoldsemeer. The mill is in operation on a voluntary basis.

Hattem - a small, but old, city on the Veluwe - has had its own flour mill ever since the Middle Ages, which was very important. Whenever a city in former ages was besieged, the food supply was not supposed to be at risk. ‘De Fortuin’ (The Fortune) was (and is) located within the city walls of Hattem ‘De Fortuin’ is a so called smock mill. In 1808 the mill was blown down by a severe storm and most probably rebuilt in 1816. In 1852, according to a plaque above the entrance door, it became its brick base. In the 20th century the mill was out of use for many years. In 1970/71 it was completely restored and nowadays it is used again for grinding wheat and can be visited on Saturdays. More info (Dutch): www.molendefortuin.nl

The Molen ‘t Slot (Mill on the Castle) is situated near the old town centre of Gouda and along the river Holland IJssel. The mill stands proudly on his spot since the year of 1832, replacing an earlier octagonal mill which was destroyed in 1831 by fire. It is however the third mill at this spot. The history goes even further back. The first mill was built (1581) on the foundations of a castle. The name ‘t Slot refers to the castle of the 'Heeren van ter Gouw', which was demolished in1577. Flour mill 't Slot is a so called smock mill. A smock mill is a type of windmill that consists of a sloping, horizontally weather boarded tower. It is topped with a cap that rotates to bring the sails into the wind. The mill is open for visitors when the sails are turning.

The Groetermolen (Groeter Mill) is a polder mill built in 1890, after its predecessor burned down a year earlier due to a lightning strike. The mill is a so-called ground sailer. Until 1977 the windmill was used exclusively for draining the Groeterpolder . In that year an electric pump was installed, as a result of which the windmill was no longer used. Today, both the windmill and the electric pumping station ensure the drainage of the 220 ha Groeterpolder . In 2020 the Groetermolen made over 933.000 rotations.

In 1778 the Amsterdam businessman Adriaan de Boois bought an old defense tower in the city of Haarlem. He received permission to build a windmill on top of the old Goê Vrouw tower. As a result, the blades of windmill De Adriaan rise high above the river Spaarne and catch every breeze possible. Due to its location the mill is a remarkable urban landmark. On 19 May 1779 the Adriaan smock mill was put into use. For years De Adriaan crushed tuff - a sort of volcanic stone - into trass; a special additive added to mortar to make walls waterproof. It also milled seashells and oak bark. In 1802 the windmill was sold to a tobacco merchant. At that time taking tobacco snuff was very popular. The mill was given new machinery, and tobacco rolls were processed into snuff powder for decades. In 1865 the mill changed ownership and function again. De Adriaan was converted into a flour mill and millstones were installed. But in early 1932 the last owner stopped milling, as it was no longer profitable to mill flour. April 1932 De Adriaan was completely destroyed by a devastating fire. Although the inhabitants of Haarlem immediately organised a fundraising campaign for a new windmill it took 70 years that the city got its windmill back. Since 2003 windmill De Adriaan houses a mill museum and is also a weddig and meeting location. When the weather permits, the mill turns and visitors can see it in operation.

The Molentje van Groenendaal (Little Groenendaal Mill) was built in 1780 by order of John Hope, the Scottish owner of the nearby Groenendaal estate, to provide water for the ponds and other water features on the estate in the summer. It is likely that the ponds often dried up in the summer because the water level dropped. The mill probably did not function as it should, because a short time later, a small steam-powered pumping station was built next to it (the second steam engine in the Netherlands), which took over the grinding work from the mill. In 1836, by order of John Hope's grandson, the steam engine was dismantled, but the windmill was preserved. Because Het Molentje van Groenendaal then lost its function, it was shut down early on and remained only as an ornamental object. Probably because of this it was often said that the mill was not a real mill, but a "folly", as they were very fashionable at the end of the 18th century. In 1989 the mill was thoroughly restored and made complete again with a going work. In 2019, Het Molentje van Groenendaal was once again restored. Wth two wooden stages, this small mill is unique in the Netherlands. The Molentje van Groenendaal - also called Groenendaalse Molen - is a national monument since 2004.

The mill in Kilsdonk is dating back to the year of 1433, when it was mentioned as a watermill. Originally there were two watermills on the banks of the River Aa. Due to flooding and problems with the drainage process in 1491 was determined that the mills only in winter could be used. A new miller wanted to use the mills during the year and got permission to built a windmill (1813). After a devastating fire, which burned down the mills, the mill complex was reopened in 1842. Flooding persisted and the mill was bought by the municipality of Veghel and the wheels were removed. Water problems solved, but the mill fell into disrepair. Nowadays the Kilsdonkse Molen (Kilsdonk Mill) is owned by a foundation, which was able to perform extensive restoration works in 2003-2008. The combination of a water- and windmill is quiet unique even in the Netherlands with its numerous mills.

Heusden is located on the river (Bergsche) Maas. The history of the town began around the year 1200 with the establishment of an urban settlement. During the Eighty Years’ War ( Tachtigjarige Oorlog : 1568-1648) against the political and religious hegemony of of Spain, massive fortifications - with earthwork ramparts with bastions, moats and ravelins - were built on the orders of Willem van Oranje . Heusden became an important garrison town with thousands of soldiers. Towards the end of the World War II Heusden was seriously damaged. The fortress has been fully restored since 1968. The restoration of the town was based on the 17th century drawings made by the famous Amsterdam cartographer Joan Blaeu. The city harbour of Heusden was built during the construction of the fortifications after 1580. In 1904 the inner harbour was filled in to create a city park, but in the 1970’s it was restored to its original form. Nowadays it is one of the picturesque corners of Heusen with a white drawbridge and a black postmill (one of three on the ramparts).

Windmill De Maagd (the Virgin) is a smock mill, which was built in 1894. The flour mill is located on the outskirts of the Dutch village and surrounded by wheat fields. After a first restoration in 1960 it fell back into disrepair. After a second restoration - 1988 - the mill is in working order again. De Maagd has two flocks of millstones that are used to grind grain on a professional basis. One pair is driven by wind and the other has an alectric engine. The mill is quite unique as it used on a daily base. The flour of the mill is delivered to bakers and (pancake) restaurants, but also to other mill shops, hotels and hospitals.

Sawmill (houtzaagmolen) De Rat in IJlst was originally built in the seventeenth century at Zaanstreek and moved to IJlst in 1828.

In the 19th century eight windmills were active in Kampen. Flourmill d’Olde Zwarver is the only one left. The history of d 'Olde Zwarver is dating back to 1842, when its predecessor de Voorste Molen burnt down. In 1865 the mill was sold, yet difficult times for the mills were coming. Steam engines came up and mills were dependent on wind; secondly the urbanisation of Kampen with higher buildings took the wind away from the windmill. In 1913 a gas turbine was installed in d'Olde Zwarver and the mill remained in use till 1949. In 1952 a new owner of the mill - a dairy factory - wanted to expand its factory and the mill had to be demolished. A huge protest arose from the inhabitants of Kampen. At that time the number of windmills in the Netherlands had been decreasing dramatically and this mill was the last one in Kampen. Due to the reactions, the factory handed over the mill to the municipality of Kampen. A new location was found at the Herkenhoofd , not far away from the original place and the idea arose to move the mill as a whole. This had not been done ever before. On April 7th, 1952, the mill was carried 550 meters by a huge truck with 48 wheels to its current location along the river IJssel. This spectacular relocation caused the name of the mill: d’Olde Zwarver (the Old Vagabond). The mill was restored several times - the last time from 1999 till 2001 - but nowadays is still in operation. Since the 70s of last century millers voluntarily keep this "living" cultural heritage spinning and grinding.

Five of the nineteen windmills in the so called Nederwaard. The famous mills at Kinderdijk were built between 1738 and 1740, to keep water out of the polder. It is the largest concentration of windmills in the Netherlands.

The famous windmills of Kinderdijk on a rainy morning.

Ice skating along the windmills of Kinderdijk during a real Dutch winter. (picture taken with a Rollei Prego 90 > scanned)

The exact year of construction the octagonal polder windmill De Woudaap is not known, but on 14 March 1651 a permit was granted for the embankment of the peat bog area the Woudpolder , then called De Wouden . De Woudaap must have been built in or shortly after 1651. After construction of the mill the excess water of the polder could be pumped away and the meadows could be put to better use. In 1864, De Woudaap was given a screw instead of a scoop wheel, which increased the capacity of the mill. The polder mill was kept in operation professionally until the year 2002. With the death of the last miller in that year this came to an end. In 2008 a new electric pumping station was built, which takes care of the water management of the polder. De Woudaap itself is nowadays put into operation on a voluntary basis. The mill is fully operational and will contribute to the drainage whenever it is possible or necessary. The mill can handle up to 70m³ of water per minute.