Millers and Residents
Since 1738
Resident and miller
The mills of Kinderdijk have been inhabited by millers and their families since they have been built in 1738/1740. The millers used to work for the Waterschap and lived where they worked. The mills functioned as tools, machines, and service housing. The mill residents shaped the area. They managed the embankments, reed and willow culture, as well as small-scale farming and fishing. Their estates were a reflection of their life and their side businesses.
In the early fifties of the last century, the windmills were put out of service and obtained the status of backup pumps (through the law “Wet Bescherming Waterstaatswerken in Oorlogstijd, BWO”). Because the windmills were no longer in service, several of the original residents left, especially on the “Overwaard”. There, the end of service led to grave emotions amongst the discharged millers.
Nowadays, mill residents are volunteers with much love and passion for our windmills and the area. Even in the present day, the area is home to several residents that are part of some of the eldest miller families of the Netherlands. This is where millers learnt the profession from their fathers, from their grandfathers. Where the generations to come will also live and work. Millers and their families are bound to the windmill area inseparably. They are a significant part of the heritage value and authenticity of World Heritage Kinderdijk.
“Parties have agreed that the current mills that are inhabited should continue to bear their accommodative function (…)
The “Lage Molen” is deemed to be inhabited so that a total of 16 windmills will remain inhabited”
Residents covenant 2017
Mill residents of past and present
Twenty windmills
–
Over 200 families
(Click on the coloured names for more information.)
Familie A. Adriaanse, Sixth Overwaard (1958-1995) •
Familie A. Boele, Blokweer (1865-1885) •
Familie F. Boele, Lage Molen (1939-1944) •
Familie J. Boele, Eighth Overwaard (1927-1957) •
Familie C. den Boer, Third Overwaard (1970-present) •
Familie E. den Boer, Second Overwaard (1946-1950) •
Familie P. Breedveld, Fourth Overwaard (unknown) •
Familie A. de Bruijn, Seventh Overwaard (1867-1901) •
Familie C. Groenendijk, Second Nederwaard (1955-1956) •
Familie P. de Haan, Lage Molen (1763-1764) •
Familie K. van den Heuvel, Hooge Molen (1854-1899) •
Familie A. Hoek, Fifth Nederwaard (1990-present) •
Familie C. Hoek, Fifth Nederwaard (1895-1929) •
Familie D. Hoek, Oude Molen Third Overwaard (1944-1953) •
Familie G. Hoek, Seventh Overwaard (1940-2001) •
Familie J.D. Hoek, Fifth Nederwaard (1744-1759) •
Familie J. Hoek, Fourth Nederwaard (1976-1999) •
Familie C. Hoek, Eighth Nederwaard (1890-1942) •
Familie J. Hoek, Fourth Nederwaard (2000-present) •
Familie A. Hoek, Seventh Nederwaard (1976-2009) •
Familie K. Hoek, Sixth Nederwaard (1991-2019) •
Familie M. Hoek, Hooge Molen (1939-1948) •
Familie P.W. Hoek, Blokweer (1939-1985) •
Familie J. Van Hofwegen, Second Nederwaard, (1867-1912) •
Familie w. Hofwegen, Second Nederwaard, (1912-1914) •
Familie J. Van Hofwegen Blokweer (1890-1939) •
Familie H. de Jong, First Overwaard (1958-present) •
Familie J. de Jong, Hooge Molen (1899-1939) •
Familie P.P. Klapwijk, Hooge Molen (2012-present) •
Familie W. Kwakernaak, Fifth Overwaard (1922-1946) •
Familie A. Mol, Eighth Overwaard (1976-present) •
Familie A. Noorlander, Sixth Overwaard (2012-present) •
Familie C. Noorlander, Hooge Molen (1966-1978) •
Familie J. Ottevanger, Fifth Overwaard (1946-1949) •
Familie L. Ottevanger, Lage Molen (1902-1939) •
Familie B. den Ouden, First Nederwaard (2007-present) •
Familie J. Pot, First Nederwaard (1740-1777) •
Familie G.J. Rozendaal, Seventh Nederwaard (2010-present) •
Familie A. Stam, Hooge Molen (1978-2009) •
Familie C. Van den Berg, Third Nederwaard (1981-present) •
Familie K. Van der Graaf, Lage Molen (2021-present) •
Familie L. van Rijnsbergen, Fourth Nederwaard (1903-1929) •
Familie C. Van Vliet, Second Overwaard (1893-1923) •
Familie H. Van Vliet, Second Overwaard (1923-1945) •
Familie J. Verhaar, Lage Molen (1970-2013) •
Familie R. Verkerk, Sixth Overwaard (1996-2012) •
Familie A. de Vries, Eighth Nederwaard (1955-2009) •
Familie J. de Vries, Fifth Overwaard (1967-present) •
Familie J. de Vries, Eighth Nederwaard (2011-present) •
Familie J.C. de Vries, First Nederwaard (1963-2006) •
Familie T. de Vries, Fourth Overwaard (1940-unknown) •
Familie W. de Vries, Blokweer (1885-1890) •
Familie W. Wensveen, Second Overwaard (1958-2003) •
Familie E. Wensveen, Second Overwaard (2003-present) •
Familie A. Wisse, Seventh Overwaard (2002-present) •
Familie P.P. Klapwijk
The family at the table next to the shed. From left to right Coen, mother Els, Suzie, Rik, daughter-in-law Romy, father Peter Paul, Donna, and son-in-law Marvin. Father Peter Paul is married to Els Stam, daughter of miller Arie Stam.
Familie E. Wensveen
The Wensveen family at the Second Overwaard, together with their dogs and the Hackensaw Boys in May 2012.
f.l.t.r. Back row: Ward Harrison, Brian Gorby, Kirsten Wensveen, Thomas Olivier and Ferd Moyse.
Front row: Ben Townsend, Sidney, Benjamin Jacobs, Rover, Ed Wensveen and David Sickmen.
Familie C. Hoek
The family Hoek in the windowsill of the Fifth Nederwaard. Father and mother Hoek and their twelve children. The mother is expecting her thirteenth child.
Familie J. Boele
Jan Boele with his wife at the capstan wheel of Overwaard no 8, where they lived from 1927 to 1957.
Familie F. Boele
Miller Freek Boele (Kleine Molen, 1939-1944) with his wife Wilhelmina van Veen at the Kleine Molen.
Familie C. Hoek
Miller Kees Hoek, nicknamed Grote Kees, at the Eighth Nederwaard. Next to the baking house of the mill. From left to right: Housekeeper of one of the mills, daughter Hoek, daughter Sijgje de Beeld-Hoek, Marinus de Beeld, Grote Kees, unknown, daughter Hoek and husband, daughter Maartje Hoek. Maartje was single, she helped her father turning the windmill.
Familie P.W. Hoek
Family Hoek at the table in the Blokker. From left to right: Piet Sr. with Piet jr. on his lap, son Cees, mother Cornelia and daughter Alie.
Familie J. Hofwegen
The wife of Jacob Hofwegen on the mill property of the Second Nederwaard.
Familie T. de Vries
Mrs. De Vries, wife of miller Toon de Vries, washing dishes in 1942. On the right of the picture is the pump with which water was pumped from the Hoge Boezem. The windmills have only been connected to the water system since 1968.
Familie R. Verkerk
René Verkerk at the Sixth Overwaard. René passed away on February 15th, 2012, in his windmill. His daughter and her mother now live in the mill.
Familie B. den Ouden
Bjorn den Ouden in his scow at the First Nederwaard.
Familie A. de Vries
Arie de Vries in the living room of the Eighth Nederwaard.