Wind and Water Mills / 'Molen'

 De Hallandsche Molen

The Mills of Holland

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Windmills

wooden cogs from 1778 turn the millstones

Jane climbs down from the 3rd floor to the 2nd

Peter explains how THIS windmill, built in 1778, was de-constructed and moved twice to different locations.  They used barges and the canals to move the windmill, pulled by horses.

two are Millers, one is an idiot tourist. 

"make a mean miller face"

See the massive tinker toy wheel spinning?  

I did too, but still walked under and got conked in the head.

A wooden brake holds the wheel in place

The 4th floor where the blades turn everything

mill stones are hand sharpened by Peter

in full operation the wheel can "spin 100 mph"

wooden braces hold the blades into the wind as the top spins

this entire windmill turns on its base

the stairs of this windmill from the 16th century are showing some wear

a list of some local windmills

Watermills

I was very lucky to be in Holland during the annual Molen Day.  I was double lucky that it was a cloudy, windy, overcast rainy day. All the mills were open for one day but the locals and tourists stayed home and we ran around touring them.  Peter spent about an hour with us, alone, and showed us everything!  He said, "well there's no one else here so let's climb up to the 'off limits' top floor. Climbing up to the fourth floor of a windmill while it was spinning is too cool for me to describe.  Then when I asked about how they turn we went out onto the deck - in the rain - and turned it....

It was a fun day of Molen touring!