Windmill de Wachter in Zuidlaren was shrouded in steam all day today. Steam and steam model enthusiasts from all over the country demonstrated their machines. But wait a minute, it’s called a windmill for a reason, what’s the point of steam?
Guardian board member Antje van Timmer laughs. More than you think. “If there is no wind and you still want to make something, then you have to do something. The miller had steam engines built in 1890. He used them to make electricity. With that electricity he then milled when there was no wind. We were quite early with that. Zuidlaren still had not even electricity, but the mill already does.”
The steam engines from that time all still work and are maintained by a large private club of technical enthusiasts. “We also have a steam locomotive and a steamer, time to invite other steam clubs from the country to show each other what we have.”