Simply Amsterdam - Amsterdam windmills

THE 8 WINDMILLS OF AMSTERDAM

Not many people (also not the locals!) know that Amsterdam has 8 windmills. One of them can be visited. This is the Sloten Windmill (see information below).
Windmill 'de Otter' can no longer be visited since the summer of 2006. The windmill is now so much closed in by new (apartment) buildings that the windmill can no longer get enough wind, and the miller has decided to quit. There are plans to move the windmill, but the city has not allowed the move. This decision has now been brought to court.

For additional information about windmills in the Netherlands, please refer to the Windmill Database website.

Name	De Gooyer
Address	Funenkade 5
Accessible	No
Year	1814
Location	Amsterdam Centre/East
Website	No
on Map of Amsterdam windmills

The history of this windmill goes back to the 18th century. It was moved several times, and placed on its current location in 1814. It was in use as a grain mill.
It was heavily damaged in 1972 when a storm made it run wild. After the repairs in 1976 it is again used sometimes.

Part of the windmill is the Brouwerij 't IJ, a beer brewery that makes its own brand of beer.
It also has a cafe/pub, with terrace, which is popular with locals, especially on warm evenings.

As this mill is very close to the centre, it is a nice walk if you would explore the East part of the centre.

Name	De Otter
Address	Gillis van Ledenberchstraat 78
Accessible	Yes, during weekdays. In operation on Friday.
Year	1638
Location	Amsterdam Centre, just west of Jordaan Area
Website	http://come.to/de-otter
on Map of Amsterdam windmills

This mill was one of many wood sawing mills in this area, that facilitated the mass production of big ships in the 17th century, enabling Holland to develop into a powerful merchant nation.

With the recent completion of an apartment building project, the mill does not get enough wind any more, which deteriorates its condition.
Currently, there are therefore plans to move the windmill to the countryside, North of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam will then lose an important monument of its industrial history.

Name	Sloten Windmill
Address	Akersluis 10
Accessible	Yes
Year	1847
Location	Amsterdam West (Sloten)
Site	http://www.molenvansloten.nl
on Map of Amsterdam windmills

This windmill is still in use to keep the surrounding polderland dry. It is open to the public, and wheel chair accessible. There is an elevator inside as well. Volunteers explain the working of the windmill and with a bit of luck there is a miller around who puts the windmill in operation. The Sloten Windmill can also be used as a wedding location.

Name	De 1200 Roe
Address	Haarlemmerweg 701
Accessible	No
Year	1632
Location	Amsterdam West
Website	No
on Map of Amsterdam windmills

This windmill was originally used to keep the Osdorperbinnenpolder dry. It had this function until appr. 1950, when it was not necessary any more. It is now owned by the city of Amsterdam and permanently inhabited.

Name	De Bloem
Address	Haarlemmerweg 465
Accessible	No
Year	1878
Location	Amsterdam West (Harbour area)
Website	No
on Map of Amsterdam windmills

This windmill was used as a grain mill, until the early 1950's. It is not on its original location. It used to stand just north of the Jordaan area, where it had to go because of the construction of new houses.

Name	De 1100 Roe
Address	Herman Bonpad 6
Accessible	No
Year	1674
Location	Amsterdam Osdorp (West)
Site	No
on Map of Amsterdam windmills

Originally, this windmill was used to keep some polder land dry. Until 1965 it stood close to the windmill '1200 Roe' along de Haarlemmerweg. It was moved there because it wasn't necessary any more.
It is now sometimes used to pump water into the adjacent sport park.

Name	Riekermolen
Address	De Borcht 10
Accessible	No
Year	1636
Location	Amsterdam South (Buitenveldert)
Site	No
on Map of Amsterdam windmills

This windmill, beautifully located along the river Amstel, is still in use to keep the Buitenveldert area dry (together with more modern pumps).

Name	D'Admiraal
Address	Noordhollandschkanaaldijk 21
Accessible	No
Year	1792
Location	Amsterdam North
Site	http:www.krijtmolen.nl
on Map of Amsterdam windmills

Used to mill trass and chalk. Although in the 19th century an engine was placed, to make it less dependent on the wind, it was still wind-operated until 1940. The mill stopped operating in 1954.
After that it was used as storage place and gradually deteriorated. Thanks to the 'Stichting Krijtmolen d'Admiraal' it was restored, and brought back into operation in 1967. Now it is sporadically used to mill raw material.