The Harger Mill

Harger and Pettemer Polder

The mill drains the 360-hectare Vereenigde Harger- en Pettemerpolder. The vast Harger- en Pettemerpolder is an old polder with a medieval plot pattern. The long history of the area is beautifully reflected in the old dikes, divided pieces of grassland, and the course of the numerous ditches. Clay extraction for the construction and reinforcement of the Hondsbossche Zeewering (Hondsbossche Sea Defense) probably led to the creation of the De Putten lake in the 19th century. The saltwater seepage that seeps under the sea defense comes to the surface here. 

Invasion of 1799

At the end of August 1799, an Anglo-Russian invasion army landed at Groote Keeten to restore the pro-English stadtholder William V to power. He had been forced to abdicate four years earlier after a French invasion. To prevent French troops from using the tall windmills as observation posts, five polder windmills were set on fire by English patrols (including the Harger and Pettemermolen windmills). It was not until 1803 that the Harger, Pettemer, Groeter, and Leipolder received a loan of 28,000 guilders from The Hague to rebuild the mills. That loan was not enough. Therefore, only the Harger mill was rebuilt and the drainage of the Harger and Pettemer polders was combined. However, the two polders remained administratively independent until 1862.

Harger Mill

The Hargermolen was rebuilt in 1804 by millwright A. Latenstein from Zaandam for 13,500 guilders. It is an octagonal, thatched, inside-sail mill. This means that the cap with the sails is turned (sailed) from the inside. In 1949, the mill was equipped with the Fauël system with plug boards on both sails. This improves the airflow around the sails, allowing the mill to turn even in very light winds.

In 1871, the paddle wheel was replaced by a screw pump. The polder continued to rely exclusively on wind power until 1962. In that year, a diesel engine was installed at the bottom of the mill to drive the screw pump, so that it would no longer be dependent on the wind. This was prompted by flooding in 1960. After that, the windmill was still in use occasionally until around 1967. Since 1981, there has been an electric pumping station next to the mill.

Due to its location in the open countryside, the windmill has a good mill biotope. This means that the windmill has good or unobstructed wind catch and is not hindered by trees or tall buildings.

In flames

Unfortunately, the mill also suffered considerable damage in the^20th century. During a severe storm on the night of January 3-4, 1976, the mill went into a tailspin and the friction caused a fire in the cap. It was only by the skin of its teeth that the mill was saved from burning down completely. The damage was extensive. Fortunately, the mill was repaired immediately afterwards.

On February 6, 1991, disaster struck again. An overheated chimney pipe caused the mill to catch fire. Strong easterly winds caused the fire to spread rapidly. The wooden octagonal structure withstood the fire reasonably well. The cap and sail cross remained in place. The restoration was completed in May 1992, the miller returned, and since then the mill has often been admired in operation.

With thanks to miller Hugh Fernig.

Extra

Abtskolk & De Putten, the area surrounding the Hargermolen, has been designated a Natura 2000 area.

Hiking

• Greetings from the Harger and Pettemer Polder(North Holland Walking Network)
• Green Switch Greeting (no. 398): Harger and Pettemer Polder(Frank walks)

The preservation of the mill is made possible in part by the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands and the province of North Holland.