Dutch feat of engineering saves historic windmill from losing wind to higher dyke

Waardenburg, Netherlands — A Dutch windmill, a rare hexagonal structure that has been grinding grain for 250 years, is being painstakingly raised 80 centimetres at a cost of 10 centimetres per hour. The operation, supervised by Koen van der Kroon, aims to ensure the windmill continues to receive sufficient wind to function, despite a nearby dyke being raised to protect against flood risks.

The Waal, a river in the Rhine delta, often has high water levels, making residents behind the dyke prioritize safety above all. Van der Kroon explained to AFP that raising the dyke is essential for flood protection, but also poses a challenge to the windmill, requiring authorities to adapt their innovative system of dykes, which can impact historic monuments.

This is the second time the windmill has been raised, following a similar operation in the 1990s. The process involves displacing the old foundations, installing jacks to lift the windmill by approximately 10 centimetres an hour, and then installing new piles for the windmill to rest on. Once the mill is stable on its new base, workers will perform careful backfilling.

The windmill's restoration is a testament to the Netherlands' ability to balance safety and heritage preservation, with project manager van der Kroon and the owner, Marcel de Kroon, expressing pride in their team's efforts to maintain the windmill in its historical context.