De Schoolmeester, Paper mill in Westzaan, Netherlands.
De Schoolmeester is a working six-sided stellingmill standing along the Gouw river that produces traditional Zaansch Bord paper using wind power. The mill features a distinctive wooden frame structure that elevates it from the ground, with machinery inside that operates just as it did in earlier centuries.
The mill was established in 1692 and operated continuously over the centuries, receiving upgrades in 1877 with the installation of a steam engine and paper machinery. These changes allowed it to remain working while keeping the craft of handmade papermaking at its core.
The mill keeps traditional Dutch papermaking methods alive, producing specialized paper that bookbinders, artists, and card makers across the Netherlands use in their work.
You can watch the papermaking process Monday through Friday from 10:00 to 16:00, with additional times available by arrangement. It helps to check ahead whether the mill will be running on windy days, since it relies entirely on wind power.
It remains the only operational wind-powered paper mill of its kind in the world and has changed little in its original manufacturing method since the 17th century. The fact that it still harnesses wind energy while virtually all comparable mills have shut down makes it a rare window into that vanished era.
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