Wheatmill De Hoop Maasdam - Maasdam

In the past, the inhabitants of Sint Anthoniepolder and Maasdam did not have their own corn mill, so they had to make a long journey to have their grain ground. The residents of Sint Anthoniepolder depended on the mill in nearby Mijnsheerenland. To get there, they had to cross the water by boat, often a time-consuming and weather-dependent undertaking. The inhabitants of Maasdam had to make a similar trip to the mill in Puttershoek, also a difficult journey, especially when the weather was bad or the waterways were stormy. These regular boat trips were not only inconvenient, but also delayed the supply of freshly milled flour, which was essential for daily life.

These inconveniences were alleviated in 1822 when turn shipper Jan Tielemanszoon Visser decided to build his own corn mill on the Gatsedijk in Maasdam: the mill De Hoop. The arrival of De Hoop meant great progress for the local communities and contributed to the self-sufficiency of the region. With a mill close to home, life became a lot easier and daily food production became considerably more efficient.

Due to growing buildings, the mill was raised to an octagonal scaffold corn mill in 1870 and received three pairs of grinding stones - impressive for a small mill! Even during World War I, De Hoop was running at full capacity, with a band saw for stove wood. But after the war, the mill fell into disrepair due to modern competition and came to a standstill around 1950.

A demolition permit was refused, and in 1966 the Maasdam municipality rescued the mill for one guilder. After a series of restorations and thanks to the efforts of the Stichting Molens Hoeksche Waard, De Hoop was festively reopened in 2016 after an extensive €600,000 refurbishment. It has been turning proudly ever since. The corn mill is a living piece of history and an ode to the age-old miller's craft - well worth a visit!