The Vrouwgeest Windmill
The Vrouwgeest Windmill was built in 1797 by Hendrik Kooperdraat, a carpenter and millwright from Alphen, for the sum of 19,800 guilders. The mill is currently owned by the Rijnlandse Molenstichting (Rijnland Mill Foundation).
The Vrouwgeestmolen is a thatched, octagonal ground-sailer, meaning it is a low mill that can be easily operated from ground level. It is a water mill that uses a steel screw pump, an Archimedes’ screw, to lift water from the Vrouwgeestpolder up to the Heimanswetering canal, thereby keeping the polder dry.
History
An electric pumping station has been present in the polder since 1966, and the windmill now serves a supporting role in draining the area. While the electric station manages the baseline water level, the windmill kicks in during heavy rainfall to help maintain the proper level. Consequently, the mill is often operated on weekends and in the evenings, provided there is sufficient wind and water.
The Vrouwgeest windmill has been operated and inhabited by the Vrolijk family since 1797—spanning six generations. The miller’s craft has consistently been passed down from father to son. Today, the mill is operated on a voluntary basis by miller Hans Vrolijk, who carries out this task with great enthusiasm alongside his job as a technician. His father, Karel Vrolijk, was both a miller and a farmer; this dual role was necessary to make ends meet and provide for his wife and four children.
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