Introduction to Dutch windmills

The history of windmills

Since the 16th century, tens of thousands of Dutch people have lived on the ancient lake bed. Therefore, many windmills were used to pump water to keep the bottom of the lake dry. In these low-lying areas, windmills remain an important factor in water management. The largest windmills are reported to be able to lift 10,000 gallons of water per minute to a height of 4 feet under normal wind conditions. In the 17th century, the invention of the camshaft and crankshaft allowed wind power to be used for various industrial purposes. Thousands of windmills were used in the lumber, paper and dyeing industries, creating the world's first industrial zone.

The exact date of when the first windmill was built in the Netherlands cannot be verified, but by 1274, waterwheels driven by rivers and streams could be seen everywhere. In 1414, the earliest known windmill for drainage was invented. Around 1450, windmills could be seen everywhere in the southern Netherlands. These windmills did not originate in the Netherlands and were probably introduced to Europe from the Middle East during the Crusades.

However, the development of windmills clearly owes its origin to the Netherlands, whose diversity of windmills is unparalleled. Nonetheless, the advent of technology quickly ended the use of windmills. First the steam engine, then the internal combustion engine, and finally the electric motor, gradually replaced jobs previously performed by wind or water power. The windmills no longer had any use and were dismantled or used as storage. By 1923, only 3,000 of the 10,000 windmills survived, and this number continued to decline to more than 1,000 today. Fortunately, these monuments are now preserved and many are open to the public on a regular basis.

American Declaration of Independence

The American Declaration of Independence in 1776 was written on parchment made in the Zaan region of the Netherlands. According to research, this parchment was made at the De Schoolmeester windmill in Zaanse Schans in 1692.