Bullemolen, Polder windmill in Lekkum, Netherlands
Bullemolen is a drainage mill in Lekkum with a three-story wooden structure topped by a thatched roof in the typical Dutch smock style. The sails are built to move water from low areas, and the whole mill rests at ground level as is common for this type of polder mill.
Built in 1825, the mill first worked near Tytsjerk to drain the Louwsmeer polder before it was relocated to Lekkum. This move allowed it to continue its essential water management work in a new location.
The name comes from a former owner who worked as Leeuwarden's executioner, and this personal history is woven into the building's local identity. The mill reflects how individual lives became part of the region's heritage.
The mill is reached on foot through the surrounding countryside, as it sits in a rural setting away from town centers. The flat landscape and paths around it make it easy to approach and view from different angles.
It was among the first mills in Friesland to use advanced sail designs with adjustable angles that significantly improved its water-pumping efficiency. This technical innovation made it a model for later mills built in the region.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
