De Zwaan

De Zwaan is a working grain mill from the Netherlands now located within a garden in Michigan. The structure has multiple levels inside, and visitors can observe how wind power drives the milling machinery that processes grain.

The mill was built in 1761 in the Netherlands and moved to different locations before coming to America in 1964. It was the final mill granted permission to leave the country.

The mill reflects techniques passed down through Dutch families for centuries and shows how such buildings served their communities. Today visitors watch grain being processed using methods that defined rural life in the Netherlands.

You can walk through the building floor by floor and watch the grain being milled. Plan extra time to explore fully, especially on windy days when the mill operates at its best.

Visitors can actually purchase grain milled on site when production is happening. This flour is a rare souvenir, since very few places in the world still process grain this way.

Operator: Windmill Island Gardens

GPS coordinates: 42.79868,-86.09583

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:45