Polder Landscape. Gemeenschapsmolen, Driemond-Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Here's a typical Dutch waterland view across the Gaasp, a small river to the southeast of Amsterdam. At the beginning of the eighteenth century there were eight polders here with dikes to keep out Zuyderzee water. But it was difficult to maintain those individual polders for the common good. So they were amalgamated into a single Gemeenschapspolder (= Communal Polder). The various windmills pumping out the excess water into the Gaasp were scrapped and a single one was built for that work in 1707/8. It's officially called the Gemeenschapsmolen but most people know it as the Gaaspermolen, of course for the river beside which it stands.
Today that windmill houses the water pumps that still keep the polder safe. It was restored in 2002/3, and it is a favored sight for all passersby whether on foot or wheels.
Polder Landscape. Gemeenschapsmolen, Driemond-Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Here's a typical Dutch waterland view across the Gaasp, a small river to the southeast of Amsterdam. At the beginning of the eighteenth century there were eight polders here with dikes to keep out Zuyderzee water. But it was difficult to maintain those individual polders for the common good. So they were amalgamated into a single Gemeenschapspolder (= Communal Polder). The various windmills pumping out the excess water into the Gaasp were scrapped and a single one was built for that work in 1707/8. It's officially called the Gemeenschapsmolen but most people know it as the Gaaspermolen, of course for the river beside which it stands.
Today that windmill houses the water pumps that still keep the polder safe. It was restored in 2002/3, and it is a favored sight for all passersby whether on foot or wheels.