De Snuif Molen
The unexpected things you learn! Little did I know until I stumbled upon this sign on a building that Amersfoort was apparently the first and reputedly one of the best places in Holland for grinding tobacco to use as snuff. The building in question was not a windmill, so assume the sign has been moved from elsewhere in the city....though perhaps the building was some sort of warehouse? I cannot be certain as to when this business actually started. One article says 1560. That seems incredibly early. However, whenever it was, sufficient was produced by mills throughout Holland to export to other west European countries.
Pictorial signs such as this indicating what business or craft was being carried out at a particular location are quite common and a delight to see in Holland.
De Snuif Molen
The unexpected things you learn! Little did I know until I stumbled upon this sign on a building that Amersfoort was apparently the first and reputedly one of the best places in Holland for grinding tobacco to use as snuff. The building in question was not a windmill, so assume the sign has been moved from elsewhere in the city....though perhaps the building was some sort of warehouse? I cannot be certain as to when this business actually started. One article says 1560. That seems incredibly early. However, whenever it was, sufficient was produced by mills throughout Holland to export to other west European countries.
Pictorial signs such as this indicating what business or craft was being carried out at a particular location are quite common and a delight to see in Holland.