Molen, Bergsche Maas Genderen (Altena 30)

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

Introduction

WIND ENGINE, situated on the summer dike of the Bergse Maas, south of the built-up area of Genderen. This wind mill built in the first half of the 20th century (c. 1925) was realised to improve the water management within the floodplain area between summer and winter dike. The mill was intended to pump out excess water from the floodplains so that it could be discharged into the Maas. The wind mill was also called an "American wind engine", because these wind engines were, as it were, adapted versions of American wind mills. The American invention was introduced into the Netherlands around 1910 and was applied on a large scale in inter alia floodplains and polders.

It is not known who built the mill at Genderen. Possibly the firm R.S. Stokvis and Sons of Rotterdam was involved in the project. This firm supplied various of these mills built by the German firm Herkules to different locations within the Netherlands.

The wind engine at Genderen is now in a state of severe decay. A number of components, such as the wind vane, are missing. The blades attached to the wind wheel are mostly severely damaged.

Description

Placed on a concrete substructure, lightly constructed iron wind mill, consisting of a four-sided iron tower construction with crossed wind braces, crowned by a large round wind wheel, composed of ten arms and three iron circles, to which thin iron blades are attached. The wind vane, which was still present some years ago, is now largely disappeared. The wind wheel can set a vertical shaft in motion, which in the lower part of the construction drives a wheel still in existence, which can set the also still present pumping installation in motion. This consists of a screw placed at an angle and set in an iron construction. At the underside of the screw two iron grilles attached to wooden beams are placed in the ditch to keep grass and water plants away from the screw. On either side of the mill on the dike there are iron railings.

Valuation

The object is of general importance. It has cultural-historical value as a historical wind mill construction from the first half of the 20th century, is of importance as an example of the adaptation of water pumping to new technical developments and is also of industrial-archaeological importance. The object has historical value as an expression of the former concern for water management in the landscape around Aalburg and Genderen determined by the Maas and Bergse Maas. The tall mill is through its distinctive construction and solitary location on the summer dike a dominant landmark in the river landscape south of Genderen and thus has high ensemble value.