De Bonte Hen, Oil mill in Zaanse Schans, Netherlands.
De Bonte Hen is an eight-sided oil mill in Zaanse Schans with a gallery platform where seeds are processed into oil. The building operates traditional stone and hammer equipment that presses and filters oil through mechanical systems built into its structure.
The mill was built in 1693 and produced oil until 1926 when operations stopped. It was reconstructed in 1935 and underwent major restoration work between 1973 and 1978 to return it to working condition.
The mill showcases traditional Dutch craftsmanship through its functioning machinery, which volunteers operate to show visitors how seeds were processed into oil in daily practice. These hands-on demonstrations help people understand the skills and effort that supported local families and trade centuries ago.
The mill sits within the Zaanse Schans open-air museum complex and operates seasonally with extended hours from April through September. Plan time to watch the milling process in action and speak with the volunteers who manage daily operations.
The mill preserves original oil cellars beneath its main structure where pressed oils were stored in carefully controlled temperature conditions. These underground chambers reveal how valuable the finished oil was to the local economy and trade.
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