De Jansmolen, Polder windmill in Goengahuizen, Netherlands
De Jansmolen is a polder windmill in Goengahuizen designed to pump water from the low-lying agricultural fields surrounding it. The structure features traditional rotating sails and sits within the flat landscape that characterizes this part of Friesland.
The windmill was built to drain the wet fields in this polder landscape and make farming possible in the area. It received official recognition as a Rijksmonument in 1970, marking its importance to Dutch heritage.
This windmill shows how communities in Friesland have managed water for centuries to keep their fields dry and usable. It represents the practical ingenuity that shaped daily life and survival in this flat landscape.
The windmill sits in a rural setting and is easily reached by following country roads through the agricultural area. Visitors should be prepared for open countryside conditions where weather and seasons can affect conditions on site.
The internal machinery of the windmill remains intact, showing the gears and mechanisms that lifted water from the fields. Visitors can see how this mechanical power was generated entirely by wind force without any modern engines.
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