Mill De Ruiten and Bakkers Meulentje

Water board De Ruiten has had quite a few problems with its mill over the years.

The current eight-sided ground-sailer was built to replace a mill that burned down on 12 December 1934. This in turn was the successor to a polder mill that burnt down in July 1854. That mill dated from 1786. The current mill of 'De Ruiten', i.e. the third on site, was built in 1935 by brothers Aaltjo and Klaas Dreise (from Woltersum and Harkstede respectively).

The infamous heavy storm of 12 and 13 November 1972 damaged De Ruiten considerably: the cap dipped but fortunately did not fall. It proved possible to use a crane to put the cap back in place. Restoration followed in 1973 as part of the land consolidation. Unfortunately, this same land consolidation meant that the mill lost its function: the screw jack went dry. Meanwhile, the landscape at the site grew more or less dense. Nowadays, when the wind is right, De Ruiten turns again and can move water.

B...

The current eight-sided ground-sailer was built to replace a mill that burned down on 12 December 1934. This in turn was the successor to a polder mill that burnt down in July 1854. That mill dated from 1786. The current mill of 'De Ruiten', i.e. the third on site, was built in 1935 by brothers Aaltjo and Klaas Dreise (from Woltersum and Harkstede respectively).

The infamous heavy storm of 12 and 13 November 1972 damaged De Ruiten considerably: the cap dipped but fortunately did not fall. It proved possible to use a crane to put the cap back in place. Restoration followed in 1973 as part of the land consolidation. Unfortunately, this same land consolidation meant that the mill lost its function: the screw jack went dry. Meanwhile, the landscape at the site grew more or less dense. Nowadays, when the wind is right, De Ruiten turns again and can move water.

Bakers' Meulentje

Much smaller is Bakkers Meulentje. This 1960 meadow polder mill originally stood in Harkstede, in the land opposite the Bakker family's farm. In 2007, it was rebuilt on the forecourt at De Ruiten windmill.

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