Museummolen Schermerhorn - Schermerhorn

The Netherlands is known worldwide for its water management, and has been for centuries. Once, this area of North Holland consisted of a vast expanse of peat. Due to reclamation from around 1000 AD, the peat collapsed and oxidised, causing the soil to sink several metres per century. This led to the formation of large lakes, including the Schermeer.

In the 17th century, it was decided to drain many of these lakes, including the Schermeer in 1635. A unique stepped drainage system with 52 mills was used for the reclamation. Water management took place in four stages: upper, middle, lower and polder mills worked together to drain the water into the ring canal.

Even after reclamation, mills remained necessary to prevent the land from flooding again. This innovative system was also described by Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater, who stressed the importance of reclamation in his Haarlemmermeerboeck (1641).

Of the 52 mills that drained the Schermer, 11 have survived, all of them national monuments. Museummolen Schermerhorn is one of these iconic relics and shows how this cultural heritage is protected and preserved for future generations. From the scaffold you have a great view over the Schermerpolder, a landscape that would not have existed without this ingenious technology.