De Valk

De Valk, the Falcon, is a windmill and museum that stands beside the Binnenvestgracht in Leiden. It is a tower mill, a type with a tall, rounded stone body and a cap that turns to face the wind, built in 1743, and it is the last survivor of the many mills that once stood on the ramparts of Leiden. The city had a great number of mills in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, which ground grain, sawed timber and powered industries, and the line of mills along the walls was a feature of its skyline.

For about a century the mill was run by one family. The Van Rhijn family bought it in 1869 and worked it as a flour mill until the last miller, Willem van Rhijn, died in 1964, and in 1966 it became a municipal museum. The family lived in the mill itself, in small rooms on the lower floors, and the museum preserves this domestic side. The ground floor still holds the miller's home, furnished as it was around 1900 and described as the only town miller's residence of its kind to survive in the Netherlands. The combination of the working mill and the home gives a good idea of the life of a mill family.

A visit is a climb through the history of wind-powered milling. The tower has several levels, joined by steep, narrow wooden stairs. The lower floors hold the living spaces, storage and the machinery for handling grain, and higher up the stones, the gears and the great shaft that carries the power down from the sails are in view. The mill is demonstrated working on certain occasions, when the sails turn and the stones rumble, and the mechanisms can be seen in motion. Displays explain how the sails were adjusted, how millers used signals and how flour was made, and a collection of tools and models adds detail.

From the gallery around the mill, there are views over the rooftops and canals of Leiden. The steepness of the stairs and the narrow spaces mean that the museum is not suitable for wheelchair users or for people with difficulty climbing, and children should be supervised. Opening times are limited, so check the schedule, and there is an entrance fee, with reduced rates for children.

The mill is a short walk from the centre of Leiden, and it combines easily with other sights. The Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Museum Boerhaave, Naturalis and the botanical garden are all within walking distance, and the canals are good for a stroll. The museum suits families, technology fans and photographers. A visit takes about an hour.