Tochmaland, Polder windmill in Kollum, Netherlands
Tochmaland is a polder windmill in Kollum, Netherlands, built with a wooden smock structure sitting on a brick base with four rotating sails. The mill was designed to pump water and help manage the wet landscape around it.
This mill was built in 1893 using materials from a dismantled sawmill, incorporating parts salvaged from another location. It pumped water continuously for decades until mechanical damage stopped its operation in the middle of the 20th century.
The mill stands as a testament to Dutch water management traditions, serving to drain 550 hectares of polder land in the Friesland region.
Access to the inside is limited and requires contacting the caretakers in advance, since visiting hours change throughout the year. It helps to check the current schedule before planning your trip.
An electric motor was added in 1995 to power the Archimedes screw system, showing how the mill merged old methods with modern solutions. This upgrade allowed the structure to continue its water-pumping role without relying only on wind.
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