Mill the Wicher - Kalenberg

The flat polder land of the Kop van Overijssel, Groningen and especially Friesland used to be filled with small watermills. These were for a large part Spinnekop mills. At first sight a Spinnekop looks like its big brother, the seesaw mill. That's probably where it originated from. The seesaw windmills are often inhabited and sometimes have a cradle length of up to 27 meters. Spider heads are too small for habitation and the cradle length is 8.5 to 16 meters.

Around the turn of the century, many small polders were merged to form a large polder or water board. Many mills were demolished and replaced by a large mill or a steam pumping station. Also in the Weerribben the mills did not faze differently. One by one they were demolished. In 1980 the idea arose at the then foundation Vrienden van de Weerribben to rebuild the windmill on the Hoogeweg. The Staatsbosbeheer (Forestry Commission) took on this task, and with the assistance of a mill construction company and its own staff, a complete mill was built in two years' time. In 1982, after 40 years, the sails swung through the air again at almost the same place as its predecessor. In the winter months, the mill drains the Boonspolder to enable reed cutters to harvest reeds. In 2011, the mill was given a major facelift, so that it can be used for years to come. In the early spring of 2013, the sub tower of the mill was given a new reed deck.