Album Nederland: wind- en watermolens from Jaap van 't Veen

Nederland - Willemstad, d'Orangemolen

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:48:27 +0000

D’Orangemolen (d'Orange Mill) is a round brick smock mill. The flour mill was commissioned in 1734 by the Prince of Orange. The mill was leased to the miller who offered the most. It was called the ‘compulsive mill’, because all local farmers were obliged to use d'Orangemolen for grinding their grain.

During the liberation in 1945 after World War II, the mill was damaged and subsequently restored several times. Nowadays the mill - with a white plastered rain side - is privately owned, but is still fully operational.

Nederland - Denekamp, Watermolen Singraven

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 08:30:31 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

Watermolen Singraven (Singraven watermill) has been part of Landgoed Singraven since 1448. The mill consists of an oil mill (no longer in operation and partly demolished, nowadays housing a restaurant), a corn mill and a saw mill. The corn mill and saw mill are still in operation and can be visited. The mill is run - mostly on Saturdays during summer time - by volunteer millers.

Watermolen Singraven is the last water-driven undershot sawmill in the Netherlands. Its water supply comes from the small river Dinkel, which rises in the town of Holtwyck in Nordrein Westfalen (Germany).

The mill has three water wheels, each with a diameter of 5.5 metres. The left wheel against the restaurant is from the former oil mill. The oil mill was demolished in the early 20th century, so the wheel is the only remaining part. The middle wheel is from the corn mill and the right wheel from the sawmill.

Nederland - Weesp, De Eendragt en De Vriendschap

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 05:34:07 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

In the past, there were as many as 25 industrial mills in Weesp, which was a prosperous industrial town for centuries. Three mills remain. Two of them, De Eendragt and De Vriendschap, are located together on the banks of the river Vecht.

In the 17th century, De Eendragt (left) was a malt mill used to break grain for the brandy distillers, an important industry in Weesp. After this, it became a mill grinding shells into fine powder and in 1815 it became a wood sawmill. When this function ceased in 1932, the mill fell into disrepair. After a restoration in the 1970s, the mill is working again.

Traditional flour mill De Vriendschap (right) was built here in 1900, on the site of a 17th-century corn mill that was burned down. Nowadays the mill grinds a couple of times a week, when there is sufficient wind. The flour is for sale in the mill shop.

Nederland - Schoorl, Molen Kijkduin

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Fri, 09 May 2025 07:08:05 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

Molen Kijkduin - located in the village of Schoorl - is one of the country’s oldest working grain refinement mills. The windmill is a round stone ground sailer and was originally constructed in 1772. Even before 1575, there was a windmill on this site, which was set on fire by retreating Spanish soldiers in that year. It was not until 20 years later that a new mill - presumably a post mill - was built, which was demolished in 1771 and replaced by the current mill.

The mill was in regular use until 1935. After the Second World War, several restorations were carried out, and since 1973 the mill has been grinding again. Molen Kijkduin is nowadays open to the public on Saturdays and grinding takes place when there is sufficient wind. The mill has a shop where various types of flour are sold to the catering industry, residents of Schoorl and tourists.

Slide show: Dutch Windmills

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 15:48:25 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

Modified and extended slide show, now uploaded to promote Ipernity on my own YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/watch?v=887pGZR9Qzw

Please view and comment on YouTube.

A journey along some of the 1,170 Dutch windmills. In the year 1221 a Dutch windmill is mentioned for the first time. These landmarks of the landscape were/are used for grinding grain, sawing wood, making paper, pressing oil or even draining entire polders.

See for more info Ipernity/Advertising/Youtube: www.ipernity.com/group/advertising/discuss/195370.
More pictures of Dutch Windmills: www.ipernity.com/doc/294067/album/537909 .

Nederland - Zuidlaren, De Wachter

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 15:55:53 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

‘De Wachter’ is an octagonal smock mill (stellingmolen). The three storey smock mill has a base of a four storey brick base. The stage is at 9,55 metres above ground level. The smock and cap are both thatched. The sails have a span of 22 metres.

The flour and oil mill was built in 1851 for the family Van Bon; the first miller. In 1895 the mill was bought by Jan Medendorp, who installed two steam engines; one of these engines was used to power a spice mill. In 1935 the oil mill and spice mill ceased to be used and were dismantled, as were the steam engines. Between 1968 and 1970 the mill was restored, as the rest of the of the mill was later. In 1989 the mill was transferred into the ownership of a foundation (‘Stichting Koren- en Oliemolen De Wachter’).

Nowadays ‘De Wachter’ is a cultural-historical museum (with limited opening hours). Apart from the flour, oil and spices mill the complex houses period shops and a couple of workshops. These are all presented as they would have appeared in 1895.

(For more info: www.dewachter.nl)

Nederland - ‘t Zand, De Hoop

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Fri, 20 May 2022 07:11:13 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

Flour mill De Hoop was built in 1782, when it was used as a saw mill - named De Haan - in the city of Leiden. In 1865 the mill was moved to the village ‘t Zand in North Holland, where it served as a flour mill until the 1920s. In 1940, the mill was increasingly dismantled; only the octagonal thatched body was preserved in reasonable condition.

At the beginning of this century, the idea arose to restore the mill to its former glory. This was no longer possible in its old location and so the mill was moved about 400 meters to its current location in 2011. From May 2013 the mill can be visited again and every now and then wheat is grounded.

In and around De Hoop is a small museum (limited opening hours) about its history. The grounds are also used for a campground for campers

Nederland - Zaandam, Zaanse Schans

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Fri, 03 May 2024 06:54:18 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

The Zaanse Schans is a residential neighbourhood in which the 18th and 19th centuries are brought to life. It is best known for its collection of well-preserved historic houses and windmills. The Zaanse Schans is a unique and one of the most visited places in the Netherlands, with green wooden houses, windmills, barns and typical Dutch crafts.

From 1961 to 1974 old buildings from all over the region were relocated using lowboy trailers to the area. Zaanse Schans derived its name from the river Zaan and its original function as sconce (“schans” in Dutch) against the Spanish troops during the Eighty Years' War.

The area around the Zaanse Schans, called the Zaanstreek, once was the largest industrial zone in Western Europe. During the 18th and 19th century heyday it used to have more than 600 windmills; 245 were sawing mills and 160 oil mills. Built for industrial functions, they were used for grinding grain, making wood for shipbuilding, pressing oil from seeds, makling paper from hemp and a lot of cocoa was also produced in the Zaan region.

Starting in the 1960’s, these historical mills and other threatened and antique buildings were moved to the Zaanse Schans to create a collection and to preserve them. Nowadays there are 12 windmills on the
Most of the mills are owned by the Vereniging de Zaansche Molen, which is also responsible for the maintenance and operation of the mills. Seven fully operative windmills and the Molenmuseum (Mill Museum) can be visited.

Nederland - Zaanse Schans

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 15:22:16 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

Nederland - Zaanse Schans

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 09:38:18 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

The area around the Zaanse Schans, called the Zaanstreek, once was the largest industrial zone in Western Europe. During the 18th and 19th century heyday it used to have more than 600 windmills; 245 were sawing mills and 160 oil mills. Built for industrial functions, they were used for grinding grain, making wood for shipbuilding, pressing oil from seeds, making paper from hemp and a lot of cocoa was also produced in the Zaan region.

Starting in the 1960’s, these historical mills and other threatened and antique buildings were moved to the Zaanse Schans to create a collection and to preserve them. Nowadays there are 12 windmills on the Zaanse Schans and four more in the vicinity. Most of the mills were moved in the last century, some stood already at their current location along the river Zaan and some have been completely rebuilt according to the original plans.

Most of the mills are owned by the Vereniging de Zaansche Molen, which is also responsible for the maintenance and operation of the mills. Seven fully operative windmills and the mill museum belonging to them can be visited. The Zaanse Schans is one of the most popular windmill sites in the Netherlands.

Nederland - Zaanse Schans

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 14:49:34 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

Zaanse Schans: some of the windmills along the Zaan.

See for more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaanse_Schans

Nederland - Woudsend, De Jager

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 09:14:36 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

Sawmill (houtzaagmolen) De Jager is a typical Frisian mill, built most probably in 1719. On the right hand side the former miller house.

Nederland - Woudrichem, "Nooit Gedagt"

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 15:38:28 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

Flour mill "Nooit Gedagt" is standing on one of the bastions of the fortress of Woudrichem.

Originally the mill was built in the year of 1682 and was destroyed during World War II. "Nooit Gedagt" was rebuilt and reopened in 1996.

Woudrichem itself is one of the official eleven Dutch fortress towns and its name ‘Walrichsheim' was already found in the year of 866. It became known as Woudrichem as from 1290, and could already be considered a town at that time, having a sheriff, aldermen and a council. It became city rights in 1356.

For another view of the same windmill: www.ipernity.com/doc/327263/28234661/in/group/100944

Nederland - Winterswijk, Berenschot’s Watermolen

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 06:08:25 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

Berenschot's Watermolen is located on the river Boven-Slinge and was built in 1749. An mention from 1652 refers to the predecessor of the current mill. Originally, the complex consisted of two mills: a corn mill (now Berenschot's Watermolen) and an oil mill on the other side of the stream.

Between 1652 and 1718, the two mills were owned by the Van Eerde family, owners of the Hazezate Plekenpol (a manor or fortified farmhouse). A new owner had the present mill building built in 1749. Probably the old mill had fallen into too much disrepair. In 1848, the oil mill collapsed and was never rebuilt.

In 1911, G.W. Berenschot bought the corn mill, to which it owes its name. In 1960, the mill fell out of use after a major flood and lasted until the 1980s. All those years, there was talk of a restoration, but no action was taken. By the end of 1984, the time had come and the mill was given a major overhaul. Between 1988 and 1991, part of the mill building was restored and converted into a restaurant.

The mill/restaurant (a Dutch national monument) is still owned by the Berenschot family.

Nederland - Winterswijk, Den Helder

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 06:55:02 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

Watermill Den Helder is a former double undershot corn and oil watermill on the course of the Boven-Slinge near Winterswijk. The watermill is a Dutch national monument.

The earliest known mention of the mill dates back to 1303 when it was part of Havezate Plekenpol (a manor or fortified farmhouse). For many years, the mill was called Plekenpolsemolen. At the end of the 19th century, the mill came into the possession of "Jan Helder" and was named Den Helder ever since.

In 1922, the mill was sold by auction to “Derk Jan Berenschot”, owner of another water mill nearby. He bought the mills to eliminate competition for his own mill. From 1923, therefore, the mills are no longer in operation. An ice cream parlour was established in the oil mill and the corn mill became a cafe after a conversion in 1934.

From the 1970s in the last century, the water mills slowly fell into disrepair. A thorough restoration was completed in 2016 and the watermill is once again operating, albeit for electricity generation. The two buildings have since been used as homes.

Nederland - Willemstad, d'Orangemolen

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 07:59:48 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

D’Orangemolen (d'Orange Mill) is a round brick smock mill. The flour mill was built in 1734 by order of the Nassause Domeinraad for 8.000 florins. The mill was owned by the Princes of Orange. Prins Maurits leased the mill to the miller who offered the most. It was called the ‘compulsive mill’ because all local farmers were obliged to use d'Orangemolen for grinding their grain.

The mill was restored in 1999 and the wings were also reinstalled. In 2004 the mill was in operation again after 40 or 50 years. Nowadays the mill is privately owned and used as a home

Willem van Oranje (William of Orange) gave his name to the town of Willemstad. Yet the town does not owe its existence to him but to the marquis of Bergen op Zoom, Jan IV of Glymes. He ordered that some salt marshes should be drained and surrounded by dykes. That’s were the village of Ruygenhil came into being in 1565.

In 1582 the Province of Brabant gave the village to prins Willem van Oranje in compensation for what he had spent and lost in the “cause of freedom”. After his dead in 1584 his son Prince Maurits named the town Willemstad (William’s Town), as we call it in Dutch.

Nederland - Wijlre, Molen van Otten

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 08:22:13 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

The Molen van Otten (Mill of Otten) is located on a branch of the river Geul in the village of Wijlre. It is one of the few water mills in the Netherlands with a double water wheel.

The history of the mill dates back to 1275, when it was built as a banmolen (mill soke) of the heerlijkheid (a landed estate that served as the lowest administrative and judicial unit in rural areas in the Dutch-speaking Low Countries before 1800) Wijlre. The first written mention, however, is from a clergy in the year 1420. A bill for the restoration of the mill by the then Lord of Wijlre, “Gerard Scheiffart van Merode”, indicates the year 1485.

Traditionally this watermill was a flour and oil mill. The current mill building and the accompanying house date from 1776, as the wall anchors indicate. In that year, the existing buildings were completely rebuilt and a farm and a brewery were added. At that time, the owners of the complex were the Lords of Wijlre. They leased the house with mill, farm and brewery. When the Ancien Regime was abolished at the end of the 18th century, Kasteel Wijlre , the mill, the farm and the brewery came into the hands of “Guillaume Eugene de Massen”. In 1871, the brewery was sold separately to the brewer “Frederik Edmond Brand”; this was the beginning of Brand's brewery, which grew into one of the best-known breweries in Limburg.

In the thirties of the 20th century the miller’s house was badly damaged by extremely high water of the river Geul. The mill fell into disrepair and restoration started after the mill was bought by the Otten family. Since then the mill has been called Molen van Otten. Since 1981 the mill is also used for small scale electricity production.

Nowadays some holiday apartments have been created in the buildings. The Molen van Otten is a National Heritage Site.

Nederland - Wijk bij Duurstede, ‘Rijn en Lek’

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 08:34:56 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

Windmill ‘Rijn en Lek’ is dating back to 1659, when it was built on top of the - only remaining - medieval city gate of the town, the Leuterpoort. In the beginning it was used as a bark mill, but around 1820 it became a flourmill, which it still is. The mill stands proudly above the gate on the dike and is the only mill in the Netherlands on top of a city gate.

The ‘Rijn en Lek’ is often confused with the windmill painted by Ruisdael, called ‘The windmill at Wijk bij Duurstede’, which stood a few blocks away.

The mill got its name ‘Rijn en Lek’ due to the fact that the river Rhine changes it name into Lek River downstream from Wijk bij Duurstede.

Nederland - Wijk bij Duurstede, ‘Rijn en Lek’

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 10:19:28 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

Windmill ‘Rijn en Lek’ is dating back to 1659, when it was built on top of the - only remaining - medieval city gate of the town, the Leuterpoort. In the beginning it was used as a bark mill, but around 1820 it became a flourmill, which it still is. The mill stands proudly above the gate on the dike, next to the water meadow outside the city wall and nearly always catches enough wind.

The ‘Rijn en Lek’ is the only drive-through-windmill in the world. It is often confused with the windmill painted by Ruisdael, called ‘The windmill at Wijk bij Duurstede’, which stood a few blocks away.

The mill got its name ‘Rijn en Lek’ due to the fact that the Rhine changes its name into Lek River downstream from Wijk bij Duurstede.

Nederland - De Wijk, Wieker Meule

nobody@ipernity.com (Jaap van 't Veen) — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 08:58:55 +0000

Jaap van 't Veen has posted:

The ‘Wieker Meule’ (Mill of De Wijk) is an octagonal three storey smock mill on a two-storey wooden base. The stage is almost nine metres above ground level; the four sails do have a span of 22,50 metres.

The mill was built in 1829 with elements coming from a mill in nearby Staphorst, dating back to the year of 1764. In an addition to the two pairs of pairs of stones driven by the wind, an extension was built against the base of the mill which housed two pairs of millstones driven by a diesel/electric engine.

In 1926, the mill was bought by an agricultural bank and the ground floor was used as a bank office. Till the year of 1962 the Wieker Meule was used commercially. The mill fell into disrepair and in 1980 it was completely renovated. Since then the mill is often used for grinding corn, nowadays owned by a local society with volunteers.