Haensmolen, windmill in Akkrum, Netherlands
Haensmolen is a windmill near Grou in Friesland with four long sails and a wooden round-bottomed structure designed for water management. The mill features an internal mechanism with gears and an Archimedes' screw that was used to pump water from low-lying polders and keep farmland dry.
The mill was likely built in the 18th century and served as a key tool for draining polder land in the region. After a boat collision damaged it in 2004, the mill was carefully dismantled and rebuilt between 2005 and 2007 at its current location on island de Burd.
The mill stands as a symbol of how the Dutch managed water and land in their flat country, using wind power for essential work. Its presence in the landscape reflects the ingenuity and practicality that shaped daily life in rural Friesland.
The mill is accessible to visitors and can be viewed from outside, with information boards explaining its history and operation. The best time to visit is during windy weather when the sails turn, and on special open days you may be able to see inside the working mechanisms.
The mill was rammed and toppled by a boat in 2004, but a local preservation group saved it by carefully dismantling it before rebuilding at a new location. This remarkable rescue story shows how dedicated volunteers work to keep historical structures alive.
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