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The Janssen windmill in Oirsbeek, South Limburg is one of approximately l,000 windmills still existing in Holland. Years ago more than 10,000 windmills were turning their sails. They grinded the abundant grain, kept the land dry, sawed the wood for the making of sailships and homes, and pressed oil out of coleseeds.
The Janssen windmill is located on a hill where grain is grinded. Usually a windmill was built at ground level. Flour mills often stood nearby villages which brought with them, houses and trees. In order to catch enough wind, the mills were raised. These elevated mills were surrounded by an embankment wall of earth, thereby giving the impression that the mill was built on a hill. The mill's cap and sails are turned to the wind direction with the help of a winch. The sails of the Janssen windmill span 24.8 meters. (81 feet).
The Janssen windmill is situated on route N285 Heerlen-Sittard (provincialeweg) and can be reached with public transportation using busline Hermes #33. The address is Molenweg 4. |
Jacob Lammeritz built the Janssen windmill in 1879. As of that moment there were two windmills in Oirsbeek. The other windmill was built before the French occupation (1800). A part of the base of this dismantled mill still can be seen. Mr Lammeritz expanded the mill with a warehouse. A year later Jan Bernard Janssen joined the mill and in 1921 became the mill's owner. The Janssen family owned the mill until 1970.
In that year the mill was bought by the town of Oirsbeek. After a major restoration done by a mill construction company, Adriaens in Weert, the mill began operating again in 1978. Since that time the mill is referred to as the Janssen windmill, named after the family that milled it for so many years. The windmill is presently owned by the town of Schinnen.
The Janssen windmill is no longer commercially being used. However, in his spare time the volunteer miller, Ron Schols still mills the grain.The town's bakers, Broekmans and Pieters use the flour to bake this delicious and healthy bread. The picture on the right shows the grindingstone with hopper
Have you become curious? Come and visit the windmill! You are most welcomed when the sails are turning. The Janssen windmill is also open the first Saturday of every month from 2 pm until 4 pm. During that time you can purchase the old fashioned style whole wheat flour to take home and bake this delicious bread yourself. Recipes are available in the mill.