Windmills and Waterwheels

Our first stop on the river cruise was very exciting for me because we stopped to tour some very old windmills that pump water from the polder (land below river level) to the river with water wheels. These windmill pumps were originally used starting in 1250 when they built a dike around a large agricultural area that had been a swamp and started farming. The pumps were needed to keep the land dry enough for crops to grow.  The water wheel is a paddle between two walls; rotating clockwise with a circular floor between six and nine o’clock. The water is scooped up at six and lifted to nine. The lift for these waterwheel pumps is about a meter so they needed two rows of windmills with pumps to lift the water from the agricultural land, which is about 2 meters below the river level.  The windmills were made of wooden beams with various types of wood used for the different gear parts. Ship building techniques were used to build the wooden windmills and water wheels. The main beam connecting the windmill to the waterwheel is the original oak beam from 1740, about 280 years ago.

The windmill sails were like ship sails

 The worn wooden gear teeth were replaced 

Two rows of windmills were needed

The sails and the brick mill are about 100 feet tall

These windmills were built in 1738. The four oak sail beams were replaced with hollow steel beams about 100 years ago.

The Miller‘s family lived in the mill house with a few rooms for eating and living and sleeping. They had a small farm around the mill with a goat for milk and cheese, a sheep for wool, chickens for eggs and meat, an orchard and some vegetables. They caught fish and eel with nets in front of the waterwheel. Often the miller would pass on his job to one of his sons; running the mill was like sailing a ship by yourself- you had to watch everything and adjust for the wind conditions diligently. 

Imagine a family of 4-6 children living here

Lots of food preparation and storage

The miller was diligent (always paid attention) because of his great responsibility to maintain the wooden machinery and adjust the sails to match the direction and speed of the wind. I am not sure I would make a very good “wind miller”. How diligent are you to notice and adjust to the shifting winds of your life? I know God wants us to be diligent to his words and to follow all of his instructions and guidance. Be diligent in the Lord- listening for his voice (wind) and following his guidance (direction).