Alde Swarte, Polder windmill in Wieuwens, Netherlands.
The Alde Swarte is a polder mill in Wieuwens with a square wooden tower and asphalt-covered cap, equipped with multiple gears for water management. The structure was designed to regulate water levels in the flat Frisian landscape.
This mill was built in 1690 using timber from trees cut the year before. It operated continuously until mechanical failure stopped it in 1961.
The mill shows traditional Dutch methods for managing water in the surrounding polder landscape. Visitors can observe how these techniques shaped the way people lived and farmed in this region.
Visiting requires advance arrangement, especially for weekend trips. Plan to spend time exploring the site carefully to appreciate the mechanical details and construction.
The interior screw mechanism was crafted from wood with precise dimensions shaped by hand. This detail reveals how skilled workers engineered these machines several centuries ago.
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