The Guild of Voluntary Millers will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary tomorrow. About 900 windmills in the Netherlands are spinning their blades simultaneously – between 11:00 and 12:00 – for a new world record. The same goes for the windmills in Obdam and Bovenkarspel. Their message? “Pass the baton. There is no better profession than this”, says miller Joost Bol.
Princess Beatrix, the patroness of De Hollandsche Molen and all windmills in the Netherlands, kicked off on Saturday afternoon, January 15. An excellent moment to reflect on the work of a miller. Dozens of windmills in West Friesland are participating in the world record attempt. From Medemblik to Aartswoud. And they don’t just do that.
aging
“There is a threat of a shortage of millers”, points out miller Joost Bol (41) van Weel en Braken in Obdam. “It’s aging.” He will therefore participate in the action tomorrow. “It is very special that so many windmills participate. We have to stand behind it together. It remains beautiful, isn’t it, that turning of the blades.”
For seven years he has been the proud key holder of this nationally listed mill, built around 1632. “I like to do my part to make young people enthusiastic about this craft. The craft must be preserved. I will continue to do this until I drop There is no more beautiful profession than this. I try to get that message across.”
The miller is aware that he can only look after the mill for a few years. “We are actually passers-by. Then I have to hand over the baton. But the pool from which we can fish is getting smaller and smaller.”
A moving monument
The mills are there for a reason. The striking building, right next to a colorful tulip field, has a special past. It has dominated the landscape of De Schermer for almost four centuries. “It is a polder mill and incidentally the only seesaw mill above the North Sea Canal”, Bol looks back. “And in ten years’ time, the mill will be 400 years old.”
In addition to having historical value, the mill also offers opportunities. Such a mill is necessary to keep the village dry. It ensures that the water is refreshed. “Small fish are ‘pushed along’ to the higher ditch water. This way you maintain biodiversity and oxygen in the water.”
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Rescue
The Ceres in Bovenkarspel will also participate tomorrow. “A special moment. We can participate again”, says miller Johan Ooijevaar (70) beaming. Because less than two years after the devastating fire the blades of the mill can turn again as before.
Is he about to retire? “Well, no, I can last another ten years. Is still full of energy.” Still, Ooijevaar hopes for fresh blood. “Let’s be honest: most millers are over 50 years old.”
He knows the origin of the guild as if it were yesterday. “Many mills were in a bad condition. They were pulled over, ended up in the stove. Nobody looked after them.”
He mentions the windmill in Wognum as an example. “In 1968 the mill in front of our house collapsed in quiet weather. Not a gust of wind to be seen. Boom. Klats. There it was. The foundation had sunk under it. A real shame, the Dutch landscape in decline.”
It was the drop. Three former millers worked hard for about 50 years to preserve the mills. Now Joost, Johan and many others will turn the blades together tomorrow, as a tribute. “That there, the creation of the guild, was our salvation. And it must remain that way.”