Mill Lana Mariana - Harskamp

In the Veluwe village of Harskamp stands the imposing mill with the lovely name Lana Mariana. Although the origin of this name is not entirely clear, an old military map from the 19th century suggests a possible variant: Lane Marianne. Its exact meaning, however, remains a mystery. There is speculation about a possible corruption of the legend of the Long Morian.

The supposed year of construction of the mill, once fixed at 1739, raises some doubts. At the time, Harskamp was actually too small and poor to build a large, expensive mill. Some sources even suggest a much older history, dating back to 1325, although there is no hard evidence for this.

The current mill hull dates from 1890, after its predecessor was destroyed by lightning. A round stone hull was built on the octagonal substructure, still visible in the beltway. Until the restoration to residential mill, the old joists remained as silent witnesses of the past.

With distinctive Zaanse features in the cap, it seems likely that a demolished Zaanse mill served as a model for the rebuilding of the Harskamper mill. Thus, the Lana Mariana remains not only a symbol of history but also a tribute to traditional mill technology that has evoked admiration for generations.