Beneath the turning sails, history whispers on the wind. We are standing before the Waterloosmolen. This isn’t just a windmill. It is a story etched in wood and brick.
The Waterloosmolen stands proudly as the third mill on this very spot. Imagine the drama. Its predecessor met a fiery end, consumed by flames on June 25, 1857. Before that, a wipmolen stood here. But a fierce storm in 1775 rendered it beyond repair.
This Waterloosmolen was erected in 1857. Its purpose was vital. It managed the drainage of the Waterloospolder. The Rijnlandse Molenstichting took ownership in 1965.
Picture this. The 1970s weren’t kind to the Waterloosmolen. The water levels dropped. The mill nearly ground to a halt. By the late 1980s, it stood silent. But hope wasn’t lost. A restoration project in the 1990s breathed new life into the mill.
Between 1995 and 1997, the foundations and the scoop wheel received extensive repairs. The Waterloosmolen could once again fulfill its duty. It could manage the polder’s water.
The Waterloosmolen’s story stretches back further than 1857. The Waterloospolder itself was created in 1636. Initially, it was known as the Sevenhuyserpolder. This was named after the nearby hamlet of Zevenhuizen. The name Waterloospolder came from the waterway between the Kleipoel and the Kever. This was called the waterloos.
For over a century, one family has been the heart of this mill. Jaap Hoogenboom became the miller in 1915. He worked until his death in 1965. His grandson, Leen Witteman, followed in his footsteps. Later, Leen’s younger brother, Cok Witteman, took over. After Cok’s passing in 2012, his son Hugo Witteman became the current miller.
The Waterloosmolen even graced an 8-cent summer stamp in 1963. Cor van Weele, a photographer, captured its image. He was working on a series of windmills for the PTT. Anton Bicker Caarten guided him. The Waterloosmolen instantly stood out.
Look closely at the mill’s details. The simple green beard is trimmed in white. It bears the inscription “Anno 1857”. The letters “WL” are in a cartouche. Three whitewashed crosses adorn the field walls. One is ancient. The other two were added by Jaap Hoogenboom in the 20th century.
A plaque on one of the field walls honors Anton Bicker Caarten. He was a friend of windmills. He founded the Rijnlandse Molenstichting. He also wrote a book about this very mill.
The Waterloosmolen stands as a testament to Dutch ingenuity. It shows dedication to preserving their heritage. Though its doors aren’t open to the public, its story is open to all. The Waterloosmolen continues to turn. It connects us to the past.