Noordermolen
The Noordermolen was built in 1805, making it one of the oldest existing polder mills in the province of Groningen. The mill turns almost every weekend.
Have a look now
Miller Vincent Mathlener turns on the Noordermolen near Noordbroek. ,,It is a polder mill from 1805, one of the oldest in the province. There is an auger at the bottom of the mill and it used to ensure that the water level did not get too high in the Noordermolen colony. That is now done with an electric pumping station but if need be, the mill can do its job in no time."
Mathlener always likes to tell about 'his' mill. "All mills are different, each has its own history. I draw visitors throughout the mill. Like two Japanese, who had never seen a mill before. They then walk around in amazement, which I think is wonderful."
North and south mill
Originally, the Noordermole...
Miller Vincent Mathlener turns on the Noordermolen near Noordbroek. ,,It is a polder mill from 1805, one of the oldest in the province. There is an auger at the bottom of the mill and it used to ensure that the water level did not get too high in the Noordermolen colony. That is now done with an electric pumping station but if need be, the mill can do its job in no time."
Mathlener always likes to tell about 'his' mill. "All mills are different, each has its own history. I draw visitors throughout the mill. Like two Japanese, who had never seen a mill before. They then walk around in amazement, which I think is wonderful."
North and south mill
Originally, the Noordermolenkolonie (635 hectares) was drained by two mills: the Noordermolen and the Zuidermolen. A steam screw pumping station was built on the site of the latter in 1879. This was electrified in 1919. A modern electric pumping station also now stands next to it.
Traditionally, there were two augers in the Noordermolen, one of which was removed in 1934. Until the late 1950s, the mill was used intensively. Around 1954, wind drainage stopped and the mill deteriorated rapidly. The mill then came into the hands of a private individual who had the building restored from 1963. As time passed, the mill unfortunately still deteriorated into a ruin, after which a foundation took over. The restoration in 2005 made the Noordermolen fully turnable again. Water milling is done with a steel auger in circuit pumping. The mill has an old Dutch railing and a 22.8-metre windvane. The mill turns almost every weekend.