De Hoop Windmill

Marken is a small village in North Holland that was an island in the Zuiderzee until 1957, and the landscape around it is one of water, grass and big skies, where windmills have long been part of daily life. In the past, windmills were essential for drainage. The land of the island and of the surrounding polders lies low, and rainwater had to be lifted into ditches and channels to keep it from flooding the fields and houses, and wind power did the work for centuries. A mill called De Hoop, which means hope, is a typical name, reflecting the confidence of the miller and the community that the wind would blow and the harvest would be saved. The details of the mill at Marken, such as its age and its present use, are not well documented, so what follows describes the kind of structure involved and its setting.

The usual type of drainage and grain mill in the Dutch countryside is the smock mill, in which a tapering, many-sided wooden body, clad in boards or thatch and often painted or tarred, carries a rotating cap with the sails. The shape is eight-sided in many cases, which gives the structure strength. Inside, a great central shaft carries the power from the sails down through the building to the machinery, which may be a scoop wheel or a screw for lifting water, or stones for grinding. A miller adjusted the sails to the strength of the wind and could brake the mill when needed, and his skill was a matter of reading the weather. A mill like this is both a machine and a landmark, and it stands out against the flat horizon.

In Marken, the museum that carries the mill's name in listings is a local museum that tells the story of the island and its people, and it is open daily during the season. The windmill is part of a cluster of attractions that include the lighthouse called the Paard van Marken, the harbour, the traditional costume and the houses on piles. The interior of a mill may not always be open, and the exterior can be admired at any time. The sight of sails turning against the sky is among the classic scenes of the Netherlands, and photographers like the combination of mill, water and wooden houses.

The lake, called the Markermeer, spreads out beyond the village, and on a clear day the views are wide. The causeway to the mainland is a pleasant walk or ride, and cycle routes through the surrounding polders pass other mills.

The mill suits photographers, families and anyone interested in water management. A look takes a few minutes. Marken is reached by bus from Amsterdam via Monnickendam, and a visit combines well with the museums and the shops in the village.