De Rentmeester, Drainage windmill in Menaam, Netherlands.
De Rentmeester is a drainage windmill in Menaam with four sails mounted on a two-story wooden-frame structure that sits on a brick foundation. Inside, it contains a system of gears and an Archimedes screw that lifts water from lower areas to keep the surrounding land dry.
The mill was originally built in 1857 in Dronryp to pump water from the surrounding polder. It was relocated to Menaam after a fire destroyed the original building in 1969, where it now stands as a preserved example of Dutch water management.
This structure shows how people here used water and engineering to keep their land dry and livable. Local communities relied on such machines to farm the land safely and protect their homes from flooding.
Visitors can walk inside to see the mechanical parts like gears and the water-lifting screw that powered the mill. Wear comfortable shoes since you will need to climb steep stairs to reach different levels and see how the parts work together.
This mill is a grondzeiler type, meaning its sails can work very close to the ground without needing a raised platform. This design saved materials and space while making the machine easier to operate in the flat Dutch landscape.
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