Merchants and Millwrights in a Unique Landscape

Four and a half centuries of industrial history in the Zaan region.
Part I 1565 -1800 Harnessing the wind

The industrial windmills in the Zaan region (Zaanstreek) are an important link in the history of technology and industry. The era of wind power as an energy source used in making products connects the previous period of human and animal muscle power as power source to our time with fossil fuels used as power source.
The unique peat meadow landscape that arose after the reclamation of the peat bog area for agriculture was very suitable for transport by boat and the establishment of industrial windmills. The draining of the lakes in the peat area was done with drainage mills. The Zaan industrial mill originated from the village mill grinding grain and from the drainage mill.

In the Zaan region wind power was used for sawing wood, pressing oilseeds, making paper, hulling barley and rice, beating hemp for sailcloth weaving, grinding grain for bread bakers, ship rusk bakers and starch makers, and for grinding dye wood and many more industrial applications.
Important inventions in the Zaan region made by local millwrights were the crankshaft in the sawmill, the wedge press in the oil mill, the sheet iron mantle in barley and rice hulling, the Hollander beater in the paper mill and a number of other improvements in windmill technology. The millwrights and merchants created the area of wooden technology.

From 1600 onwards, in this rural area, important industry clusters arose, where over the centuries 1200 windmills have been in operation. The peak of wind power was around 1730 when there were 650 windmills in full swing. In the 17th century Zaandam was one of the most important shipbuilding areas in Europe. The wind sawmills, shipyards and whaling provided great prosperity. It creates a class of rich merchants who invested in other forms of industry such as paper making and oil pressing.