WORKING WINDMILL The craft of milling : a day of work at 'De Zandhaas' cornmill

The craft of milling : a day of work at 'De Zandhaas' cornmill, Santpoort, the Netherlands
'De Zandhaas' cornmill was built in 1779. The working life of the mill ended in 1964. 'De Zandhaas' ground flour again in 1991, and stoneground wholemeal flour has been produced there ever since. Nowadays, it is one of the few windmills in the Netherlands that are working on a daily basis.
The craft of milling is an important cultural heritage, just as fascinating as the structure of the windmill itself. The windmill is the miller's tool, and without the craft it is an empty hull. Preserving the craft of milling should be regarded as an important aspect of windmill maintenance.
I have been working at 'De Zandhaas' for nearly twenty years. First as a volunteer later as a semi-professional miller. In my view, full-time professional millers are the true guardians of the craft.
www.molendezandhaas.nl/ (in Dutch)

[@MarkNieuwenhuizen]

Great to see a colleague explain the workings of the mill. I volunteer as a tourist guide on windmill De Hoop in ‘t Zand in the Netherlands

[@greglewis8041]

Love it 😍!! So much new technology the human Race can't live without!!!!

[@haydayclasher]

Thanks for the great information about working parts of the mill.This is the only video on youtube which shows the function of parts.I love old youtube videos straight to point , no fancy intro of 2-3 mins which is clear waste of time.I would liked to visit your windmill once in my life 🥰.

[@LanguageOdditorium]

Thank you for you kind comment. Please do visit! The mill is in Santpoort, near the city of Haarlem, and is open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays

[@lazyjminetest2092]

Thank you for the video. The old wooden gears and the ingenuity that went into compacting so much function and utility in one space... all accomplished centuries before computers. This frantic, impatient modern world we live in is sorely missing craft trades and craftsmanship, respect for honest work, and the appreciation of those skills.

[@vincentrobinette1507]

Artisan bread, at it's very best! I wanted to reach through the screen, take that loaf from him and eat the whole thing. by keeping the oils, and bran in the flour, that is WHOLE WHEAT bread.

[@lincoln7184]

@@vincentrobinette1507 With stone pieces from the grinding stones?

[@vincentrobinette1507]

@@lincoln7184 Actually, no! The grinding wheels don't actually come in contact with one another, there is a very tight clearance. The stones are so much harder than the grain, that the stones barely wear at all.

[@lincoln7184]

@@vincentrobinette1507 oh ok. Thanks. He just started chiselling the shape back into them so I assumed they wear down faster.

[@hassanharith6820]

@ 11:12, - thanks,.the methods of "engaging" & disengage the driving gears are so unique. * ❤️ video s mch. Thanks for your explanation.

[@culixstar]

in both scenes when the bags were being raised and lowered i was thinking a ghost would pop out or something lol. very nice video ^_^. GOODBYE! *walks off*

[@vincentrobinette1507]

With the right lighting, and score, you could film a pretty good horror scene in there!😮

[@vincentrobinette1507]

This was one of the most fascinating videos I've ever seen. I would love to try flour with the bran and germ still in it. Probably much better, than what's available at our stores here in the United States. I never knew how the sails were furled, nor how the stones were maintained and how often. That was probably one of the most informative videos, showing this art, which is on the verge of being lost. I'm glad there is an effort to preserve these true windmills.(Not turbines). If you have to use the electric motor, I hope it's powered by a nearby turbine, or photovoltaic array. If not it's own sails, perhaps some other renewable source, even if stored in a battery.

[@hunclemike]

A visit to the Zans Schaans while in Amsterdam is a must.....it is a beautiful walk and to see these grand windmills in a real education. Ingenuity at it's finest!

[@rq7179]

This is the most instructional video I've seen regarding windmills. Showing the details and functions of various parts. Good job and thank you.

[@LanguageOdditorium]

Thank you very much for your kind comment

[@winstonbartolome1154]

thumbs up! a work of art inside out. kudos to the windmillers!

[@zz2ipper]

Fascinating - Ghys. To think the Dutch had developed technology of this sophistication 500 years ago is very impressive.

[@jamesmullins4424]

Very nice video. Thank you for keeping a heritage alive. I wish you and your mill the best.

[@billhayward2668]

I find these pieces of machinery fascinating! I'm so surprised smaller versions haven't been built over the years. Great video!

[@LanguageOdditorium]

Thank you for your comment! Smaller windmills used to exist in large numbers, but relatively few have survived the first half of the twentieth century. A lot of carpenters/contractors had their own little saw mills with a sail span of between 6 and 12 metres. Also windmills for the production of spices, mustard, and chocolate used to be relatively small. Again, very few have survived. As for smaller corn mills, they were never much of a thing in the Netherlands, but the Swedish island of Öland still has a lot of them.

[@Mainer1945]

Extremely interesting. You did a suberb job of showing your craft. Thank you so much. :From Maine USA.

[@marktabler]

An outstanding look at an enduring tradition. Delightful.

[@Jongsukk]

Thank you very much. This vdo is very informative. I saw many windmills but didn't really understand how it worked. Now I know much more. Well done.

[@walterbeech]

This is a great vid, thanks for posting!

[@tlt689]

My 4 year old great grandson is fascinated by windmills and how they work. This is the best video we have seen. Thankyou for posting this

[@klaudiosaganic4574]

It is great! Me and my family finds it very interesting. Thank you for the video!

[@guitarthanida]

Omg finally i found everything i want to know about windmill here. Thank you so much. Very fascinating ❤️

[@LanguageOdditorium]

Thank you!

[@1Kitter]

Thank you for keeping this craft alive. I hope to visit the Dutch windmill in Pella, Iowa, USA, to see how they grind flour, which I hope is organic.

[@lettydigmon7266]

Thank you for the information and education on this wonderful craft and trade. What an excellent profession!!!

[@michaelturner5069]

THANK YOU!! GREAT FILM.

[@arnaudcomte860]

Thank you !

[@strumhead]

This was such an enjoyable video to watch and learn about this beautiful, ancient machine. It made me want to come to see it -- and the narrator -- in person! I hope some day I can. Thank you for making this video!

[@lunaluckstone403]

8○ WOW! I seriously did not realize how interesting it would be to see how organic was flour was made seeing it first hand no hidden rooms just old fashion production, I never knew how windmills work thank you for this video it was very interesting to watch and I see why you do what you do as a professional miller I hope more people like you continue to do this it IS very important for mankind to keep this tradiction going

[@ronkroese6442]

LUNA Luckstone

[@necrowizzard1569]

i agree with previous comments, very informative and interesting - just started to inform myself about windmills because i wanted to build one on minecraft :D - its an extremely interesting topic, especially in the netherlands the windmills were essential (e.g. for pumping water, sawing logs) - (for me) it would also be interesting to figure out why windmills are constructed in a different way - the modern ones only have 3 blades, while the american ones for low windspeeds seem to maximize the area that is pushed by wind, these old ones for milling have 4 blades, and they seem almost too heavy for they work they have to acomplish its great to have people maintaining crafts that almost died out, so i also understood the take home message :D thanks for the video

[@well3295]

Absolutely fantastic! This is such a brilliant video, thank you so much for posting it

[@Lmr6973]

I wish I owned one of these!

[@parsonspig]

Thank you - fascinating video!

[@ramblingrob4693]

Loved it Excellent, I have been in a few working mills in the UK mainly Lincs and Kent. but I haven't seen the Flour machine at work or Sails with cloths, and also the Dutch ones don't have the fantail which automatically rotates the mill into the wind.

[@benfairlight5226]

Thank you so much for an instructive and fascinating video. I'm writing a song about New Mill, near Cross-in-Hand, Sussex, England, which is in need of full restoration - so it was great for me to see - and hear! - your mill in action. Best Wishes for your rare and valuable profession.

[@flamechick6]

Enjoyed watching! Send me some flour, lol :)

[@Paint0nBrush]

Most Excellent! Namaste

[@mikejudyvandenheuvel1693]

I learned so much. Very well done.

[@gamblemadman]

An excellent video; perfectly presented.

[@xoxdid]

this is beautiful, thank you for sharing

[@christophbisschopinck9050]

I admire your work, well done.. regards from Christoph

[@LanguageOdditorium]

Thank you for your kind comment

[@johntaylor1947]

Modern wind turbines will not last as long as these old mills and the carbon footprint to make a modern turbine is much higher. We would be wise to revisit these wonderful mills.

[@ramblingrob4693]

Please can you make more... maybe History. Can you come to the UK and make a documentary I'm sure the BBC would like a great Narrator like yourself, ideal for children to learn. Gr8 Video

[@TheCrimsonSpork]

Amazing and informative video, thank you for your effort in making this. My children also enjoyed watching ^_^

[@sandraruggini]

thank you for sharing this video! very detailed!

[@greglewis8041]

Love this old world 🌍 thinking 🤩.

[@dadamerkel]

Thanks much for this video...

[@billrodgers5532]

Excellent Video Well done!

[@dailymale2934]

Wow, Thank you very much for the educational tour. I visited Netherlands last year. Missed out the tulips which is normally blooms earlier than I visited and also tasting poffertjes because the food van that sells didn't show up at the Markets. Managed to click some photos of a couple of windmills from outside but never got the chance to see how it works due to my tight trip schedule. Thank you so much for your insight.🧡🌷

[@nicoleabela2305]

Good Job Mike

[@romero6157]

Thank you very much for this video!

[@LanguageOdditorium]

And thank you very much for watching it!

[@jbfrodsham]

Excellent, thank you.

[@jimarichard]

Well done! Very informative!!!

[@peolo-499]

Nice video! 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@bass1134]

Very interesting! Loved the video.

[@sunilkaldate1035]

Very nice, thank you!

[@triton115]

It's really funny how wooden bearings seem to hold up, even lubricated. I learned from a question I asked on Yahoo Answers about the bearings on these old windmills and was told that they are simply bare wood grinding on bare wood with animal fat for lubrication, including the wind shaft that is spun directly by that 80 foot diameter rotor, which I am sure weighs at least as much as a Ford Taurus if not even a 15-passenger van. I would have thought that such bearings would wear out after maybe even 2 to 5 days, depending on the kind of wood used (maple, oak, pine, etc). Not to mention the fire hazard that wood grinding on wood would create, especially under such extreme pressures caused by the weight of that huge, heavy rotor and the wind pressure on it.

[@shade38211]

Great vid.

[@marcsoap4974]

Maravilhoso work

[@richardgalea9884]

Thank you for the information....

[@LanguageOdditorium]

Thank you for watching!

[@EL90291]

Thank you for sharing, very informative and well made video. How long does the wood gear last or need to be replaced ?

[@simon160]

vakwerk, dank je wel

[@pedrodeelizalde7812]

Amazing!

[@LanguageOdditorium]

Thank you!

[@volvoturbo1]

Thanks,, I enjoyed the video

[@LanguageOdditorium]

Thank you! Very pleased to hear that!

[@Stupidityindex]

Very interesting. I doubt my allergies would allow me to be a master at that trade.

[@ruthdoyle9085]

To modernize the mill again, you could install a generator to use when you aren’t milling and power your house and maybe a few neighbors.

[@LanguageOdditorium]

Thank you for your comment! Actually, a generator was installed a couple of years after I made the video. The trouble with generators is that they can't deal with the unsteady turning pace of traditional windmills. So, unless someone invents a kind of generator that works well with an unsteady turning pace, they aren't of that much use for traditional windmills. Also, it's important to realise that modernising is not what we aim to do. The reason why we preserve and keep working with windmills is 1) to preserve something interesting from the past (meaning both the mill itself, and the craft of corn-miller), and 2) to produce a good product that allows you to make delicious bread, pastries, pancakes, pasta etc. It might interest you to know that there actually exists a windmill in Schiedam that has been built as a generator, but has been made to look like a traditional windmill. The name of the mill is "De Nolet".

[@brucethedruid]

Very nice. Good presentation. One note though, the caption said "break", when I think you meant "brake"; the two words are homophones in English.

[@LanguageOdditorium]

+Bruce Wilson Oh dear! Thank you!

[@suryadev5048]

good job

[@TheBushfish]

Fantastic video thanks for taking the time to make and upload.I was wondering what the windmill brake is made of and if there is much danger of fire caused by friction?

[@presto709]

Loved watching this. I love machinery. You said the millstone gets worn down every year. Doesn't this mean there is stone in the flour? Is it filtered out or is there so little it doesn't matter?

[@vincentrobinette1507]

Consider that the stones mill 750 pounds of flour per hour. Just like a saw gets dull, there is actually little wear before they lose there effectiveness. If they need to be reconditioned every 2,000 hours, that pound or two of granite is divided into 750 tons of flour. The amount of stone isn't even measurable, let alone, noticeable.

[@colt4667]

His English is excellent.

[@michael9202]

Yes 👍

[@michaelgoulding6609]

what a marvelous piece of machinery,the mill itself could be used as a prototype to build new one,s in the uk,& other parts of the world, its a case of, if it works then why change & people would buy flour etc from it because of this reason & tradition

[@wandaswiderski4202]

Excellent video - I learned so much. Would they have ground malt grain in the same way?

[@LanguageOdditorium]

Thank you for your kind comment! In reply to your question, I can say that the basic principles are very much the same. However, when you grind malt for jenever (Dutch gin) for instance, you don't need to grind it that fine. Grinding a coarser flower requires much less power, so the amount a malt mill grinds on a day tends to be much more than that of a corn mill that grinds flour for bakeries.

[@bizoucrew9086]

Wow

[@Iwavvns110]

Thank you for your video. Please tell me how you control the rotation speed to not overspeed and avoid any damage of the mill? Thank you!!!!

[@LanguageOdditorium]

+Ιωαννης Βλαχος Thanks for your question! When the wind gets too strong, you simply stop the windmill by using the brake, as is demonstrated in the video. Then you reduce the surface of the canvas on the sails by reefing them manually. After that you release the brake. Because there's less canvas on the sails the mill won't turn as fast as before. We let our windmill turn at a speed of between 15 and 20 revolutions per minute tops.

[@Iwavvns110]

First, thank you for your answer. Really appreciated. But only 15-20 revs/min? Isn't too slow?

[@LanguageOdditorium]

+Ιωαννης Βλαχος For a traditional windmill with a sail diameter 24.5 meters that is quite fast actually. You also have to take into account that the transmission from the top shaft to the grinding stones is 1:7.5, so the stones turn much faster than the sails.

[@user-ri2do9mt8o]

I will make in Thailand.

[@justlolatthisworld7917]

0:43 "The balcony is at 10 feet." LOL no way. That balcony is WAY higher than 10 feet!

[@LanguageOdditorium]

Sorry about that. I was thinking in meters. It's about 33 feet.

[@justlolatthisworld7917]

@@LanguageOdditorium Thanks for replying. I figured you were talking about meters. I do that myself all the time! Thank you for making this video. I really enjoyed it. Are you the gentleman in the video? Cheers from the UK!

[@LanguageOdditorium]

@@justlolatthisworld7917 Cheers! I am, but almost ten years older now... And with a slightly less geeky haircut! I apologise for the poor quality of the video. I keep telling myself that I'll make an updated version one day. Stay safe!

[@Detailedstream]

Don't you have the electricity generators to attach windmill gears

[@LanguageOdditorium]

Thank you for your question! A generator was installed in 2012, one year after I made the video. Of course, it doesn't generate nearly as much electricity as modern windmills do, but it's still fun. The mill's main purpose is producing flour after all :)

[@mrsyddall7487]

Making sistem sande

[@tewlyx]

exclusive

[@garethrossbuddell9436]

You're obviously a natural born miller.

[@greglewis8041]

If you had no wind you could use animals to rotate the mill, like Arnold Swartz Neggar movie, "Conan"?🤔

[@yobab77]

feels like game of thrones

[@greglewis8041]

If you were to build one of these Dutch Windmills in America you would probably need a building permit that would take years of red tape and a 🔥 fire sprinkler system and code enforcement to Ok every thing??🤔👍

[@benjamindejonge3624]

Horrible audio

[@greglewis8041]

A working electric motor built in 1918 that still WORKS?? AND AMERICAN'S NEED A BRAND NEW CAR AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR!!😯🤔

[@kevincrosby1760]

Not all Americans need a new car once a year. I do happen to own a new car, which replaced the one that started to show transmission issues at 225,000 miles. The '05 Toyota is sitting at about 175,000 miles, and the '86 Dodge truck is unknown, as the odometer quit at about 287,000 miles. All three are road-worthy and have working A/C, which is more of a requirement than a luxury when summer temps run 100F or higher. If I am going to try to compete with the neighbors, I'd rather compete for the largest 401k balance in 14 years than try to impress with my vehicles.