Ferry gone. Imagine the centuries when crossing the Dove Elbe here meant entrusting yourself to a ferryman. But now, we stand at the Reitbrooker Mühlenbrücke. It connects Reitbrook to Allermöhe, north of the Dove Elbe.
Before this bridge, the ferry had been here for centuries. It played a vital role. The owner of the ferry farm, next to today’s windmill, received permission in 1773 to build a grist mill powered by wind.
Speaking of mills, right next to the Reitbrooker Mühlenbrücke stands the Reitbrooker Mühle. This mill is a landmark for all to see. It is a testament to Reitbrook’s history. The Reitbrooker Mühle was built in 1870. The original mill burned down that year. It was then replaced by the windmill we see today.
This is a “Galerieholländer”. It has a two-story square base of brick. Above that sits an octagonal wooden structure. The cap, where the sails attach, turns with the wind. The sails themselves stretch 12.50 meters long. Imagine them catching the wind.
While the last grinding using wind power happened in 1938 or 1939, the mill got electric upgrades in the 20th century. The Reitbrooker Mühle received historical protection in 1942.
Of the nine windmills remaining in Hamburg, the Reitbrooker Mühle is the only one with its original sails. It is in good condition and stands as Reitbrook’s symbol.
Today, a feed and horticulture business uses the mill. They even still grind grain there, now with electric power. The Reitbrooker Mühle is located at Reitbrooker Mühlenbrücke 1. You can even see the mill from the A25. Just take the Nettelnburg exit and look left.
As you stand on the Reitbrooker Mühlenbrücke, think of the past. Think of the ferrymen, the millers, and the farmers who shaped this land. Reitbrook remains a place of idyllic beauty. It sits between the Dove and Gose Elbe rivers, with wide meadows, horse paddocks, and farms. It’s a fitting backdrop for the Reitbrooker Mühle and its bridge.