Cycling along the West Frisian Omringdijk

The history of West Friesland
West-Friesland has long belonged to Frisian territory in the Middle Ages, as the inhabitants did not want to submit to the counts of Holland. The Frisian influence can be found in the dialect, the names and the many Frisian farmhouses that you can still see here. There is also no lack of historical windmills on this route, such as the De Hoop windmill from 1889. In 2010, this windmill was voted the most beautiful windmill in North Holland. Since 2013, the mill has housed a museum dedicated to Theo Koomen, the legendary sports reporter.

The Warrior Mill
Just outside Hoorn you will pass De Krijgsman, a windmill with a striking history. A windmill was built here in 1602 and was blown over in 1860. His replacement, De Krijgsman, completed in 1862, was burnt down in 1896 by a lightning strike. A new mill was quickly found. They bought De Bootsman, a hulling mill from 1751 that was about to be demolished. This hulling mill was rebuilt in 1897 and again called De Krijgsman.