What a history: this is the story of Molen de Hoop

It is a familiar sight for every Zoetermeer resident: Molen de Hoop. The flour mill is over a hundred years old and has quite a history. You can read it here!

Middle Ages

A windmill has stood on the site where Molen de Hoop is located since the Middle Ages. There are maps dating from the 14th century, on which windmills are already drawn. A windmill at this location on Eerste Stationsstraat is therefore not only a familiar sight for Zoetermeerders today, but also for those of centuries ago.

Fire

The mill burned down on January 16, 1897. It must have been a spectacular sight, such a burning mill in the dark of the early morning. Miller Bastiaan Hoogboezem had the burned-out mill replaced immediately. The new mill was given the name ‘de Hoop’.

second fire

The mill remained in use until 1936, after which it was in danger of being demolished. Fortunately, this plan fell through. A mill was built next to the mill, where milling was carried out using mechanical power. On May 22, 1987, the site was again hit by a fire. The mill burned to the ground, but luckily the mill was spared this time.

1 guilder

An action by the Zoetermeer business community in 1980 prevented the mill from falling into disrepair. The Molen de Hoop Foundation was established and the mill was purchased from the municipality of Zoetermeer for a historic amount of no less than 1 guilder.

The mill today

In 1986, thanks to various actions and donations, the mill could be restored to the current monument. Since then, the mill has also been grinding grain for its own shop and local bakers. The monument is also accessible for guided tours. Molen de Hoop is the only flour mill in Zoetermeer.

Want to read more about Mill de Hoop? View on Molen de Hoop’s website or on this page of Zoetermeer my city.