Babbersmolen, Historic windmill in Schiedam, Netherlands
Babbersmolen is a stone tower windmill standing beside the Poldervaart canal, equipped with a rotating cap and four sails that catch the wind. The site includes a miller's residence, a garden, and a grove of willows alongside the main structure.
This mill was built in 1710 to drain the Babbers polder and replaced an earlier wooden structure. It remains the oldest stone polder mill in the Netherlands and has been restored for visitors today.
The name comes from the Babbers polder that this mill once drained. Today visitors can see the restored miller's house and its furnishings, which show how milling families lived in the early 20th century.
The site opens on Saturdays from March to October when you can enter through the main gate facing the Poldervaart canal. The grounds are easy to navigate and you can explore both the mill and the surrounding property without any special equipment.
Next to the mill stands an educational water management project featuring miniature polder systems with wooden water wheels that show how drainage works. This hands-on element makes water engineering tangible and helps visitors understand the hydraulic principles behind polder systems.
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