Maasdam: Mills, Polders and Baking Culture

Maasdam offers several specific points of interest for planning a trip: historic mills, the history of the Sint Anthoniepolder, routes through the landscape and a bakery museum. These topics offer different ways to shape a stay. Those who enjoy spending time outdoors can compare route lengths and the landscape features described for each one; those interested in cultural history will find mills with different designs, dates and uses.

Routes through the Sint Anthoniepolder

The 8.2 km Sint Anthoniepolder Route starts at Polderdijk 20 in Maasdam. Along this route are the Binnenbedijkte Maas, other waterways, historic farmhouses and wide-open views. Water, farmhouses and open vistas are therefore the main landscape features of this route. The 11.4 km Wandeling bij Maasdam is a walking route through the medieval Sint Anthoniepolder. The distances can be compared directly: 8.2 km for the Sint Anthoniepolder Route and 11.4 km for the walk; the latter is explicitly described as a walking route.

Mills: construction history and operation

The mills can be compared in terms of their design, use and history. De Hoop is an octagonal gallery corn mill; the Korenmolen De Hoop dates from 1822. The term “corn mill” refers to its function as a grain mill. It was built on Gatsedijk in Maasdam by the barge skipper Jan Tielemanszoon Visser, who lived on Polderdijk in Sint Anthoniepolder. Previously, the residents of Sint Anthoniepolder transported their grain by boat to Mijnsheerenland; the residents of Maasdam had to take theirs to the corn mill in nearby Puttershoek. The history of the mill is therefore also linked to the routes grain used to travel in the past. The Poldersche Molen is a stone mill that has stood there since 1749 and still mills grain on a voluntary basis. The Antonymolen is a polder mill dating from 1842. The dates form a sequence from 1749 to 1822 to 1842; the mills’ designs and current uses offer further points of comparison.

Baking culture and regional products

The De Oude Bakkersschuur Bakery Museum offers a different cultural focus. On display are modern and old ovens, old school wall charts depicting baking, old bread tins and other baking accessories. The collection thus brings together tools, illustrations and everyday objects related to baking. The museum also sells spelt flour and spelt flower flour. The Maashoeve farm shop offers handmade ice cream, dairy products, meat and cheese, as well as a milk vending station. The products on offer may change.

The history of the polder landscape

The Sint Anthoniepolder is also the only polder in the Hoeksche Waard that was not flooded during the St. Elizabeth’s Flood of 1421. This historical distinction adds a clearly defined historical reference to the routes’ focus on the landscape. The Wandeling bij Maasdam passes through the medieval polder; those wishing to combine routes and history can view this route in the context of the flood.

Discover more destinations: Mijnsheerenland, Heinenoord.

Return to the main travel overview: Binnenmaas.