How long do you think a windmill can stand? Balingsta Kvarn a stunning windmill in Huddinge has stood proudly overlooking Lake Orlången since 1877. This isn’t just any windmill. It’s Huddinge’s only surviving older windmill remarkably unchanged since it was abandoned in 1898.
Balingsta Kvarn wasn’t always in its current location. It began life lower down near Balingsta Farm. The wind proved too weak there. The mill was moved uphill for better air flow. Ironically the strong gusts at the higher elevation proved less than ideal. This unique mill a so-called “Holländare” could be rotated to face the wind. Its top including the sails could be turned for optimal wind capture.
Imagine the last miller Per Magnus Storm and his wife Sofia Constansia Elisabet. They moved into the mill house in 1892. The house which likely moved with the mill in 1877 served as their home until the late 1920s. Sadly it was destroyed by fire in 1993.
After 1895 Balingsta Kvarn fell into disrepair. A 1921 photograph shows it badly damaged with broken sails. But the story doesn’t end there. In 1971 Balingsta Kvarn was lovingly restored with new sails. A storm in 2011 damaged a sail. Repairs were quickly undertaken. The turning mechanism was also renovated or replaced. During this work the entire upper part of the mill was rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise.
Today Balingsta Kvarn stands as a testament to resilience and history. It’s a symbol of Huddinge’s past a reminder of a time when windmills were vital. The Huddinge local heritage association even offers tours for groups and school classes. You can almost hear the whispers of the past as the wind sighs through its sails. Take a moment appreciate this magnificent piece of Swedish history.