The Dutch capital is not a particularly important windmill area, but even so
there are at least 8 remaining windmills around the city. The Dutch database
of vanished and incomplete windmills has a further 81 additional entries for
the city. A few miles North of the city is the Zaan industrial area, which
once had 1000 windmills, which are covered elsewhere.
Wood sawing mill (paltrok) - very central location, in regular use up to 2006, but now
suffers from surrounding buildings blocking its wind.
Originally constructed in 1638, and restored in 1996.
Recently built pumping mill, reusing a mill body (octagon) that dates from
1847. The mill has a few unusual features, including a lift which gives
access up to the stage level, and a bar and conference/wedding room featuring
a grand piano. (That's the advantage of a pumping mill over a corn mill - the
only machinery in the body of the mill is the main shaft, which leaves lots
of room for other things).
Signboard
says:
Molen Van Sloten
This rebuilt gallery-mill dates from 1847. The mill can pump 60,000 litres of water per minute from
the polder. Most of the moving parts are made of wood. Visitors may use the lift
Inside the mill there is a collection of old tools and photographs, souvenir of the history of this
area. A scale-model shows you the lanscape of Amsterdam in the 17th century. Through three levels
windmills pump the water into the belt canal. Next to the mill there is a cheese farm.
On the third floor you can admire an audiovisual presentation with life size figures
about life and works of the famous artist Rembrandt Van Rijn, a millers son himself, who also
painted in the neighbourhood of Sloten.
ANWB
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