How about we uncover the story etched in stone right here at the Bolwerk Slotermeer Plaque? This plaque marks the spot of a significant bastion in Amsterdam’s history. It’s part of a series of 26 plaques that form the Bolwerkenroute, a path that traces the city’s old fortifications.
Amsterdam once boasted impressive defenses. In the 17th century, 26 bolwerken or bulwarks encircled the city. These strongholds protected Amsterdam and this Bolwerk Slotermeer was one of them. Each bolwerk, save one, even had its own windmill.
Bolwerk Slotermeer originally bore the name Anjelier. This bastion was constructed around 1613. Sadly, poor upkeep led to its walls sagging. In 1672, hasty repairs were made using soft red brick. This quick fix was meant to fend off a feared French invasion.
Interestingly, the Bolwerk Slotermeer derives its current name from a geographical feature. To the west of the city lay the Slotermeer lake. In 1644, this lake was drained. From that moment on, the bolwerk became known as Bolwerk Slotermeer.
Now let’s talk about mills. The Gortmolen mill once stood proudly on Bolwerk Anjelier. Dirck Philipsz Schabaelje, a grain merchant, established it in 1614. He and his brother Jan, both recent arrivals from Walcheren, were not only merchants but also writers. For a yearly rent of 37 guilders, they had a work and living space including a shed and some greenery.
The Gortmolen on Bolwerk Slotermeer changed hands a few times. In 1687, Hermanus Gosinck, a brewer, bought the mill for 2800 guilders. Gosinck renamed it De Hooyberg, after his brewery.
Thereafter, the mill ground malt for the De Hooyberg brewery. Gosinck even got permission to build a small wharf on the canal for easy transport of the milled grain.
Brewery De Hooiberg had a remarkable history of its own. By the 1780s, it had grown to become the largest brewery in Amsterdam. In 1784, it produced over 18% of all beer brewed in Holland. Gerard Adriaan Heineken acquired De Hooiberg in 1863 and renamed it Heinekens Bierbrouwerij Maatschappij in 1873.
Back to the Bolwerk Slotermeer itself. By 1867, the city council decided the mill had to go. The mill was allowed to remain until 1871 to allow time for relocation.
Could this mill have been the same one that later appeared in Friesland? A mill named De Hooiberg popped up there around the same time.
Today, the Bolwerk Slotermeer plaque reminds us of this rich history. It marks a spot where defense, industry, and ingenuity converged. The Bolwerk Slotermeer Plaque is one of the best spots in Amsterdam. As you continue along the Bolwerkenroute, remember the stories embedded in these stones. Each plaque represents a piece of Amsterdam’s layered past.