Eliot's Travels

We had intended to go to the flower auction in the morning but neither Jim nor I slept much because of Miles being up and down all night, so when 6:30 came, we hit snooze. We were able to get going right before noon. Jim took the afternoon off to join us on a train trip to Leiden. Upon arriving in the city, we headed for the Leiden VVV (tourist bureau). The VVV provided a map and some ideas for activities.

Julie really wanted to see a windmill, so that's where we went first. We followed the beautiful Rijnsburgersingel (canal) toward the de Valk, which is now a windmill museum. De Valk was one of 19 windmills built on the city walls of Leiden in 1743. The mill is 29 m high, allowing it catch the wind above the city's buildings.
http://home.wanadoo.nl/molenmuseum/framesets/set_geschengels.html

The mill is 3 stories high before you even get to the windmill factory levels. Because of its size, the windmill is quite spacious inside with plenty of living space (unlike the mills we saw in Kinderdijk). It has been restored beautifully, as you can see from the parlor fireplace.

We watched a nice video on the history of windmills in the world. The upper floors of the flour mill are pretty cool. Working from the top, the Luizolder is the hoist loft where the grain is stored prior to milling. The steenzolder (stone loft) is where the stones actually grind the grain to make flour driven by the wind. On this level, the miller also refurbishes his stones. The maalzolder (griding loft) has the shoots that drop the flour down from the level above. This floor is where the miller can control the windmill (direction and brake).
View of the wingspan from the maalzolder

posted by Whitney @ 1:17 PM