Once a proud oil mill in Oostzaandam, Het Zwarte Kalf now exists only in memory. It stood just north of De Poel. Let me tell you its story.
Het Zwarte Kalf was built in 1649. The builder remains unknown. The construction year was painted on the mill’s beard. This is how its age became known.
Adriaan Pietersz included “one-ninth part in the oil mill on the Kalf called Het Zwarte Kalf” in his testament in 1674. This shows its significance.
In the early 18th century, the firm Baes and Stokvis owned Het Zwarte Kalf. They also owned the Zaandijker oil mill “de Zoeker” and “het Leven” located on the Braakdijk. Jan Stokvis insured the three mills against fire in 1733.
After Jan Stokvis died his son-in-law Jan Dirksz Vis from Zaandijk inherited the mills. Vis expanded his holdings. By 1828 his widow Aaltje van Bergen partnered with four of her sons. They divided the large estate in 1836.
Het Zwarte Kalf along with de Roggebloem went to the sixth son Jacob Jacobsz Vis. He also ran a grain seed and pulse trade. The business liquidated when Jacob Vis died in 1869.
Jan Huysman from Koog aan de Zaan bought Het Zwarte Kalf just before 1900. Huysman started a new oil milling firm when others were selling their mills. He soon acquired several other oil mills. This venture became ADM Cocoa. Initially Huysman processed linseed. After 1912 the mills processed cacao waste.
Huysman used Het Zwarte Kalf until 1908. Then Pieter Boorsma an ex-millwright from Koog owned the mill.
Boorsma developed a machine. It separated cacao waste into husks germs and grit. Boorsma and Hendrik Evenblij formed a company. They installed Boorsma’s machine in Het Zwarte Kalf’s shed. The mill was renovated. It got new iron rods and a new wind shaft. Het Zwarte Kalf then produced cocoa butter from the sorted waste. A gas engine powered the sorting machine.
Boorsma managed the mill’s equipment. Hendrik Evenblij handled the business side. Over the years Het Zwarte Kalf expanded. A petroleum engine provided power during calm weather.
Business thrived except during World War I. In 1922 Boorsma and Evenblij liquidated the company. They chose to retire comfortably. Boorsma later co-founded the Zaanse Molen association.
On September 14 1924 Het Zwarte Kalf caught fire. The cause was unknown. Within thirty minutes the mill collapsed. Firefighters saved the shed. Schoemaker an extraction company bought it. The old mill shed stood on the Poeldijk until August 1965. The factory on the mill’s site is still called Het Zwarte Kalf.