Mill name Jan Pol
Molen van Pol Type Smock mill Year built 1876 | Operator(s) Gemeente Coevorden Storeys Three-storey smock Windshaft Cast iron | |
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Mill location Molenwijk 8, 7751 CG, Dalen Purpose Corn mill and barley polishing mill | ||
Jan Pol is a smock mill in Dalen, in Drenthe province of the Netherlands. It was built in 1876. The mill is a Rijksmonument, number 44562.
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History
Jan Pol was built in 1876, replacing a mill that had been built in 1820 and burnt down following a lightning strike in 1875. It was built by millwright Schiller from Dalfsen, Overijssel. It was working until 1947 and stripped of machinery in 1958. In 1971, restoration of the mill was undertaken by millwright Huberts of Coevorden. The restoration was completed in 1972. Further restoration work was undertaken in 1993. The millwrights were Doornbosch of Adorp, Groningen. The mill is named for Jan Pol, who owned the mill from 1942 until his death in 1982. It is the tallest windmill standing today in Drenthe.
Description
Jan Pol is what the Dutch describe as an "achtkante stellingmolen", a smock mill with a stage. The mill has a three-storey brick base with a three-storey smock. The height of the stage is 9.90 metres (32 ft 6 in) above ground level. The smock and cap are thatched. The four Common sails span 21.60 metres (70 ft 10 in). They are carried on a cast-iron windshaft which was made by the millwrights Prins van Oranje, of Den Haag in 1866. The windshaft carries the brake wheel, which has 61 cogs. It drives the wallower at the top of the upright shaft. The wallower has 34 cogs. At the bottom of the upright shaft, the great spur wheel with 115 cogs drives two lantern pinion stone nuts, one with 37 staves and one with 38 staves. The pearl barley stones are driven by a stone nut with 28 cogs.
Public access
Jan Pol is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 1 April to 1 November between 13:30 and 16:30. It is also open throughout the year by appointment.