Spinnenkopmolen, Polder windmill in Netherlands Open Air Museum, Arnhem, Netherlands
Spinnenkopmolen is a polder windmill in the Arnhem open-air museum with an octagonal base, rotating cap, and sails for pumping water. The structure shows the practical construction methods developed in the Netherlands for draining low-lying areas.
The windmill emerged as a response to flooding problems in the flat Netherlands during the medieval period. This type of polder mill evolved over centuries into a proven technique for controlling water and reclaiming land.
The windmill shows how Dutch people managed water and shaped their surroundings through practical engineering. Standing in the open-air museum today, it speaks to the everyday solutions people developed to live safely in a flat landscape.
It is best to visit as part of exploring the entire open-air museum and allow time to see the interior mechanisms. The grounds are spacious, so wearing comfortable shoes and bringing weather protection is practical.
The name refers to how the mill appears from above, where the rotating cap and sails resemble spider legs. This distinctive shape helped people quickly identify and remember the structure.
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