Windmill Tour Hollands Midden

The Zwanburgerpolder is a polder island just above Leiden. The polder was founded in 1632 and was responsible for water management in the polders until it was merged into the Veen and Geestlanden in 1979. The polder has long been drained by a mill, but nowadays people prefer to change the water level as little as possible. If you also want to explore the cities in the polder, then Sassenheim is a good candidate, but the gigantic abundance of water in the lakes is actually enough to amaze you with this beautiful region. The bike ride takes you along the many windmills in the area, but after you have parked your car at TOP Sassenheim, you first cycle to the beautiful Huys te Warmond. It is not for nothing that the building is called "the Pearl of the Randstad" by the residents. The imposing building forms the center of a beautiful 20-hectare park. The house is built on the remains of a medieval castle and is surrounded on three sides by water. The construction is very reminiscent of that of eighteenth-century country houses. The house is privately inhabited by people who can enjoy an original interior of Louis XVI. One of the towers is adorned by"Barbara\\\". With a casting year of 1392, this bell is one of the oldest in the Netherlands. Then the tour takes you to the Broekdijk mill in Leiden. The beautiful octagonal ground sailer was built in 1840 and used as a polder mill. The mill went wild in 1972 and burned down completely. The Broekdijk mill was completely rebuilt in 1976 with a new hood, rods and ongoing work. The mill currently drains the polder Broek en Simontjes on a voluntary basis and cannot be visited. Less than seven kilometers further, just outside Rijpwetering, there are two windmills within a radius of 500 metres: the Lijkermolen No. 2 and the Lijkermolen No. 1. These windmills are the only two twelve-sided windmills in the Netherlands. Both mills date from 1780 and drained the Veender and Lijkerpolder. After almost 19 kilometers of cycling't Veen Eten & Drinken in Roelofarendsveen is a good place to catch your breath. Relax on the terrace, drink a beer at the bar of the pub or dine more stylishly in the restaurant: it's all possible. When you have spoiled your inner man and are rested, it is time to cycle to the Dekkermolen. The Dekkermolen is a seesaw mill from 1911. The mill was moved in 1976 because a shopping center was built on the old location. The mill was last dismantled and moved again in 2009. Since then it can be admired in the shed of mill maker Verbij in Hoogmade. What is special is that this is one of the few remaining sawmills in the Netherlands. Finally, a look at the Vlietmolen is on the program. This seesaw mill dates from 1913. The mill was built to drain the Vlietpolder after another mill with that function burned down. At the bottom of the mill is a house, which is privately occupied.