Tot Voordeel en Genoegen, Post mill in Alphen, Netherlands.
Tot Voordeel en Genoegen is a post mill in Alphen, Netherlands, built to rotate on a central wooden post so it can turn to catch the best winds. Inside, several independent sets of millstones work at the same time to process different types of grain.
Built in 1798, the mill served the farming community for generations until 1978 when ownership shifted from the Van Dreumel family to the local municipality. This marked an important change in how the building was managed and preserved.
The name Tot Voordeel en Genoegen means Profit and Pleasure, reflecting how the mill served both as a working business and a gathering place. People came here not just to process grain but to meet and connect with their neighbors.
Getting inside requires careful navigation through tight staircases and low-ceilinged rooms where the machinery fills most spaces. Wear comfortable shoes and allow time to explore all the levels and see how the stones and gears work together.
Inside, most of the gears and moving parts are made from wood, held together with handmade flax ropes instead of iron. This choice shows how the builders worked with what they had to create a working machine that could last.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
