The volunteer oil butchers from the Woldzigt oil and flour mill from Roderwolde came second in the Heritage Volunteer Prize 2024. That place is good for a check for 5,000 euros.
The Heritage Volunteer Prize is awarded annually by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science as a token of appreciation for the many volunteers who work within the heritage sector. One heritage center from each province participates and the Woldzigt oil and flour mill was the Drenthe nominee this time.
The public could cast its vote throughout the month of November, with the public’s opinion counting for 50 percent in the final decision. The remaining 50 percent was determined by an expert jury led by Ingrid van Engelshoven, former Minister of Education, Culture and Science.
“We ultimately received 1,450 votes. That is not bad at all for a sparsely populated province like Drenthe,” says Hans Meijer, board member of the Woldzigt Oil and Korenmolen Foundation. “We were really able to put ourselves on the map.”
The most votes went to volunteers from Geleen who are committed to making the history of the mines visible and keeping it alive. They won the Heritage Volunteer Prize and received a check for 10,000 euros from Minister Eppo Bruins at the Royal Theater in The Hague.
“They were also visible across the border,” says Meijer. “Because they also received a lot of votes from Belgium. They are a deserved winner, because they also had a strong story. We are very happy with our second place. We received a very positive assessment.”
Woldzigt shares second place with the Wijhe Historical Society. They also receive 5,000 euros. Half of the prize money can be spent freely, for example on team activities, the other part is to promote knowledge transfer within volunteer work.
The mill in Roderwolde has 21 oil butchers who all ensure that the mill remains operational and grinding, because a stationary mill decays. Oil is therefore regularly minted and grain is milled, preferably on the wind. Every first Saturday of the month there are demonstrations in Woldzigt.