De Gans, Smock windmill in Ezumazijl, Netherlands.
De Gans is an octagonal wooden smock windmill in Ezumazijl that sits in the flat landscape and features four rotating sails for pumping water. The structure's design and mechanics are representative of functional drainage mills built throughout the Dutch countryside during the 19th century.
This mill was built in 1850 by farmer Martinus Aukes Wierda to drain water from the surrounding polder. Its active pumping work ended in 1962 when an electric motor took over the task.
De Gans received recognition as a Rijksmonument number 31571, marking its status among protected Dutch heritage structures that define the national identity.
The mill sits in flat, open countryside and is visible from the surrounding roads. It can be accessed on foot or by bicycle through the paths that cross the polder landscape.
Of the six drainage mills that originally served the Ganzenpolder area, De Gans is the sole survivor standing today. This makes it a rare example of how farmers once managed water in flat landscapes.
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