Description of the attraction
Hadrian's Mill is a famous windmill in the Dutch city of Haarlem, located on the banks of the Sparne River and is rightfully considered one of the most colorful local attractions.
Hadrian's Mill, which can be seen today, is a reconstruction and was erected in 1999-2002 according to the original drawings of the mill from the 18th century. The original building was built on the foundations of an old tower, which is part of the fortress wall that once surrounded the city by the order of the famous Dutch industrialist Adrian de Beuys, after whom, in fact, it got its name. Adrian de Beuys acquired the old tower and the surrounding land in April 1778, and already in May 1779 the impressive structure over 30 meters high, intended mainly for the production of cement, was put into operation.
For almost 25 years, Adrian de Beuys was the only official cement manufacturer in Haarlem, but since the cement business was not profitable enough, in 1802 he sold the mill to Cornelius Kraan, who built a snuff factory within its walls. In 1865, the mill changed ownership and activity again - the new owner began to use the old mill for grinding grain and equipped the building with a steam engine. However, by the beginning of the 20th century, the profitability of the enterprise had significantly decreased, and over time there was a question about its feasibility, as well as the existence of the building itself. And in 1925, in order to avoid demolition, the building of the old mill was acquired by "Vereniging De Hollandsche Molen" - a Dutch organization founded in 1923 with the aim of preserving windmills in the Netherlands.
For more than 150 years, Hadrian's windmill was one of the most recognizable structures in Haarlem, but on April 23, 1932, as a result of a fire, the cause of which was never determined, the mill burned down almost to the ground. Hadrian's mill in Haarlem was restored only in 2002 and is now open to the public (on Saturdays and holidays).
