Storage basin mill Nr. 6 - Haastrecht

The small river Vlist used to function as a grinding reservoir for polders in the western part of the Lopikerwaard and the eastern part of the Krimpenerwaard. In 1486, probably six, at most eight mills were grinding at this polder outlet. Later there would be ten in total.

The storage basin discharged into the Hollandsche IJssel via a sluice in Haastrecht. In 1486, this river had silted up so much that the discharge became increasingly difficult. It was therefore decided to create a Hooge Boezem. This boezem was later enlarged.

The mills grinded the water from the Vlist into the ‘Hooge Boezem’. Because the water was not pumped directly into the Hollandsche IJssel, but into the storage basin, the mills were not dependent on the river level. The drained water was then discharged into the IJssel by a natural route.

In 1739, mill No. 6 burned down. It was replaced by an octagonal mill. In 1873, this mill also burned down. It was replaced by a stone mill with a very strongly waisted model. To strengthen drainage, a 44 hp steam shovel wheel pumping station was built in 1871. In 1912, the water board decided to dissolve the wind pumping station, after which the 1871 steam pumping station was rebuilt in 1913-1914. It now received two centrifugal pumps, each with a steam engine and a total power of 135 hp.

The rocker mills were all demolished after the steam pumping station came into operation; their place in the landscape can still be clearly seen. Mill No.6 was dismantled and continued to serve as a dwelling. Concrete rebuilding plans came to fruition in 2005. In 2010, work began on restoring the stone mill hull. On National Mill Day 2011, Saturday 14 May, the mill was grinding again. The mill already contains a king spindle and a cast-iron water spindle from 1870 is available, taken from a Utrecht mill.