A seven-meter high work of art of two ears of corn will be presented this afternoon at the Molenbelt in Coevorden. For centuries there was a mill at this location, but there is nothing left of it now. Nowadays you can park your car on the Molenbelt.
With the artwork of Hans Jouta, the historic Molenbelt is once again brought to the attention. “In 1609, when the new fortress was about built, a mill had to be built. Otherwise, the people of Coevorden would have to grind everything outside the city,” says Henk Mepschen, municipal archivist of the municipality of Coevorden.
“The first mill that stood there was a wooden mill that stands on a standard, such a mill is called a standard mill. If you want to get an idea of that, you should actually look at the mill in Bourtange,” explains Mepschen.
Almost a century and a half later, the original mill was due for replacement. “The mill was rebuilt in 1751 and it was then also a standard mill,” says Mepschen. In 1869 Coevorden said goodbye to this type of mill and a tower mill was built on the same spot. “A real stone tower mill, with a thatched roof.”
The brothers Jan and Johan Belt became millers at this new mill and they are therefore the namesake of the place where the work of art will now be located. “From then on, that place was popularly called the Molenbelt or Meulenbelt.”
The mill was finally demolished in 1940, but the place remained special for Coevorden. “A swimming pool was added to this place, which was a kind of instruction pool. I grew up in Coevorden myself, so I also had my swimming lessons there myself. And who wouldn’t in Coevorden, because I think everyone can use that pool had to deal with,” says Mepschen.
The name of the swimming pool was, how could it be otherwise, the Molenbelt. And the parking lot of today also bears the same name. Jouta’s artwork is a nod to the history of this special location. “The artwork actually depicts two ears of corn. And at the very top of the artwork you can still see a small windmill, a nice nod to the past.”