Molen Laurentia

The Laurentia mill in Milheeze.

The beautiful Laurentia mill is not originally from Milheeze, but was brought from the Dutch polder in 1893. More specifically from Bleskensgraaf in Alblasserwaard. Many wooden mills were built in Holland, the light weight of such mills held up better in the swampy polder soil. Around 1850, however, they began to be replaced by steam pumping stations. The demolished mills were often bought up and placed in Brabant as happened with this mill. The type is a wooden octagonal upper mill. The mill was transferred after the earlier smaller mill on this site burned down. The new mill had three pairs of millstones and was used both for grinding grain (especially rye and the buckwheat commonly grown in the Peel) and linseed and rapeseed for oil. In 1965 the mill underwent a restoration and the name of the mill was also changed from "Ludolizawi" (an amalgamation of the names of the former owners) to "Laurentia". That was also when the thatch was put on the side and top of the mill. First, in fact, that consisted of roofing leather on wood. Many verses have also been written about mills, important parts of a village. Below is one about the circumstances of the miller.

The miller who slaves and roots

Is in danger of life and limb.

He is always awake by day and night

And hears complaining from farmer and baker,

when there is no water and no wind,

then his head is all twisted.

Not until the Lord makes the wind blow,

and ditch and brook water again,

then can he grind on his mill,

The grain that God gives for food.

To please everyone

And to be loved by all

These are the most impossible things

that one finds here in the world.

Sources:

D. van de Pol, P. Terlouw, Onze molens: Muldersversjes, 1981, Zomer en Keuning Boeken B.V., Ede 

W. van Heugten, W. van Heugten, Molens in Peelland, 1982, Peellandse Molenstichting, Vlierden