The Molenduin

The Molenduin

The salutation indicates it, a mill, while there is no longer a complete mill within the boundaries of Hillegom. We will have to do it with the memory.

The mill dune is not a real dune, but an elevation where remains of the windmill that once stood on this site are underneath. It is good to leave this hump in the terrain alone.
In the past there was a nice view from this hump, when in the spring the flower bulbs were in bloom and the Zanderij exhibited a colorful color splendor.
The hump forms a beautiful backdrop for the monument for the fallen. That was placed after the war 1940-1945, also 1945-1951.

Every year on the 4th of May it is impressive how the commemoration of the dead takes place on this spot. How silence is observed during the two minutes of silence in the presence of several hundred interested people. In that evening still only the whistle of birds can be heard as a last greeting. A better, more modest place for this monument was hard to find in Hillegom.
A model of a winged warrior has been placed in the center of the monument, liberated from its chains and ascending upwards.

The caption on the memorial is: 'My shield and the trust You are, O God my Lord'.
A good thing is the involvement of the youth. Every year, round row, the highest classes of primary education maintain this memorable place.

On the left behind the Molenduin we find the Molenbrug. This bridge was built in 1731, you guessed it, by Mr. J. Six. The Lange ditch brought about the connection to the new brook and the Molenbrug had to cross over. The bridge was widened at the end of the last century. During these works, two marble boxes were found with hidden silver and copper plates with the names of those who laid the first stone for this bridge. This is now again in possession of the Six-archive in Amsterdam.

Then there is the Molenstraat, one of the oldest streets in Hillegom. Previously it was called Molensteeg. 'Street' sounds a little better than 'increased', although it is overgrown with space and it is sometimes difficult to get through it, which also has something cozy. Pay attention to the nice facades, old shops where it is nice to browse, the cafes with a history of several centuries and the names of entrepreneurs from the past as Simon de Wit, butcher Alleman, footwear from the Red Boot, Reyneveld etc. It is not cuddly, but cozy. That's how it should be in old centers.

Pictures taken at sunset.