Yet another old watermill in The Netherlands (starting to feel like the tourist board)
This is the watermill at Singraven, near Denekamp, The Netherlands. It was the largest watermill of the region, containing an oil mil, a grain mill and a sawmill, each driven by its own water wheel. It is powered by the river Dinkel.
Olympus XZ-1, 80mm, ISO100, f5.6, 1/80
This watermill was first mentioned in 1448. The stone tablets near the door tell us it was restaured in 1544, 1610, 1617 en 1646, having been destroyed in several local wars and, in 1597, in the war for independence against the Spanish. It found its current shape and form in 1880.
The windmill was considered picturesque even 350 years ago, when Jacob van Ruisdael painted it in its 17th-century form:
The water wheels make a mighty sound when they are turning, and you shouldn't get too close, they are easily powerful enough to crush you when your clothes get caught in them. Here's a look through these water wheels on the river Dinkel:
Olympus XZ-1, 28mm, ISO100, f8, 1/5
Yes, I did get close, well spotted, but I am an idiot photographer.
Most water mills have a weir right next to the water wheels, that can be opened to keep the water flowing when the mill isn't operating. Not doing this would block the river, flooding a large area and depriving the farmers downstream of water. This particular watermill, being very large, has a canal as a bypass, with a separate weir, seen here open:
Olympus XZ-1, 28mm, ISO100, f5.6, 1/320
I love the sound the water makes here. It can be heard from a terrace, which also has a view of the mill itself, making it one of my favourite spots. Well worth a visit.
Previous watermill post here.
Large, old technology like your watermill is so interesting. I'm glad people keep some of these going. Are they actively milling grain here, or is it hooked up to produce power?
The oil mill was shut down, but the grain mill and sawmill are still operational, though not commercially, mostly for demonstration purposes (the products are used, though, not thrown away). The same goes for the grain and oil mills of the Oostendorper Watermolen. The Haarmühle has had a generator in it since 2000 and produces electrical power.
Very neat -- all three posts. Thanks.
Such a lovely post! This is making me think of a steemit wikipedia..
Netherland is really beautiful. I would like to visit it one day.
I love Netherlands,cant wait for a trip back there,very nice photos!
Thank you.
Very nice history and place's conservation ! (;
Nice use of slow shutter speed on that photo!
Thanks. I really wanted to show movement. I decided on a fast shutter speed for the last photo, it looked nice with a slow shutter speed, but not dynamic and frothy enough.