De 1200 Roe, windmill in Amsterdam, Netherlands
De 1200 Roe is an octagonal polder mill built in Amsterdam around 1632 with a wheel-shaped water pump that originally cleared excess water from the surrounding fields. The structure was later fitted with an electric motor for assistance and underwent restoration in the 1970s, though it no longer operates for water management.
The mill was built in 1632 when the Haarlemmertrekvaart waterway opened and the region required water management to support farming. After World War II the mill fell out of use, but restoration work in the 1970s brought it back to partial operation, and since 2003 it has been managed by an active miller.
De 1200 Roe represents the water management practices that shaped life in this region for centuries, reflecting how residents adapted to their low-lying surroundings. The mill demonstrates the practical ingenuity people applied to keep their land dry and habitable.
The mill sits at Haarlemmerweg 701 and is not always open to visitors, so checking ahead is worthwhile before planning your visit. It works well as a walking destination and groups can sometimes arrange visits by contacting in advance.
The mill was dismantled from its original site in 1961 and relocated to the ring canal of Osdorper Binnenpolder, where it continues to manage water levels. This move became necessary because post-war changes altered both water conditions and the surrounding landscape.
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