Discover the windmills in North Holland

Explore the beautiful North Holland province. The many beautiful windmills and cozy courtyards of Alkmaar are the highlight of this cycling tour. The historic center, which has hundreds of beautiful municipal and national monuments, has still retained the authentic atmosphere of an old city. The city center and the Westerhoutkwartier are a protected cityscape for good reason! You can follow the water of the canals, crossed by low bridges, or visit the traditional cheese market. There is even a cheese museum in De Waag, where cheese is traditionally weighed!

When in Alkmaar you can visit the Damlander mill. The ground sailer was built around 1700, with the aim of draining the Damlanderpolder. This initially happened on the Schermerboezem. When the polder mill was sold to a private individual in the mid-20th century, he removed the work in progress in 1957.

The first mill you see in Alkmaar is on the edge of the city. This polder mill, which was probably built in 1781, drained the Munniken, Raven and Robonsbos polders. Even when the mill was dismantled in the period 1931-1976, it was used as a signal mill. The wooden reel cross is unique to this mill. Despite the mill's ability to turn, it is used as a home.
The Geestmolen is a polder mill with an oak octagon on a low base. It was built in 1565. The mill used to grind the corn that the Geestmolenpolder, a piece of land of 170 hectares, yielded. That function was abolished when a new housing estate was built in the polder. In 2015, the thatched Geest mill drains the polder on a voluntary basis.

Piet's Mill is located almost in the historic center of Alkmaar and is therefore fun to visit. As an old rampart mill, the octagonal tower mill still dominates the cityscape. In 1884 Cornelis Piet bought the mill and had a house built at the bottom of the flour mill. A member of the Piet family still runs the mill.

Then you pass the Varnebroekermolen, a small water mill that had a predecessor that drained the Maalwater polder. The mill is characteristically located in a meadow and therefore has great landscape value. The mill will be restored in the first half of 2013, so that it can once again contribute to the water management of the Baafjespolder.