De Kat, Paint mill in Zaanse Schans, Netherlands
De Kat is an octagonal wooden paint mill with large sails that power grinding mechanisms inside to produce color pigments. Its interior contains traditional milling equipment that transforms natural materials into fine powder.
The mill first appeared in 1646 as an oil mill, was rebuilt in 1782 following a fire, and later combined with components from another mill. These changes reflect how mills adapted to new demands over time.
The mill demonstrates how traditional Dutch paint-making kept its craft alive through generations of millers grinding natural materials into pigments for artists and conservators. Visitors witness methods that shaped artistic practice across centuries and continue to serve restoration projects today.
You can enter the mill daily and climb to the observation deck to view the surrounding area. Regular demonstrations show how millers produce color pigments using traditional methods.
This remains the world's only active windmill producing paint pigments, maintaining this production since the 17th century without interruption. Its rarity makes it a living example of a craft that has nearly vanished everywhere else.
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