The Kilsdonk Mill

A visit to this mill in the Netherlands is very rewarding for many reasons, but mainly due to its rustic location and surroundings. It’s the ideal place to unwind.

The Kilsdonk Mill is a rare example of a mill capable of being driven by water and wind known as a “watervlucht”. These type of mills had a large advantage over normal windmills because of their enormous production capacity. It’s believed that the mill dates back to 1433. Although innovative, the mill could only run during the winter months due to the Aa river’s drainage problems. In 1840 both mills caught fire and burned down.

It was rebuilt two years later and worked for roughly 40 years until the municipality bought it and decided to break it down to again aid the flow of the river. What was left of the structure degraded further and further until it was in ruins. Fortunately, in the 21st century, it was decided that this piece of history needed to be restored. In 2008 the windmill was completely rebuilt after its old design and operational once more.

These specialized mills are no longer found scattered across the Netherlands and are extremely rare abroad.