Hoogmade: Mills, Water and History

Hoogmade can be understood through its milling history, water engineering and landscape. The mills represent different construction periods and functions; there is also the Polderpad along the A4 and a visitor opportunity that is subject to a specific condition. If you are interested in water engineering, the Doesmolen and the Kalkmolen’s shared auxiliary pumping function is a specific point of interest.

Mills, History and Visiting

The Hoogmadese molen was built in 1897 on the foundations of its predecessor, which was also a wipmolen. The year refers to the present mill, while the reference to a wipmolen describes its predecessor. The mill is also known as “De Heerlijkheid.” The name probably relates to the fact that the polder almost coincides with the area of the former heerlijkheid of Hoogmade.

At the Vlietmolen, a precisely dated damage event and a later technical change come together. During the night of September 27–28, 1956, the windshaft broke, causing the sails to collapse in a severe storm. Since the extensive restoration in 2002, the Vlietmolen’s new Archimedean screw can once again be driven by wind.

The Grosmolen underwent extensive restoration in 1966/67. It can be visited when its sails are turning. If you plan to visit this mill, bear this condition in mind and check in advance whether the sails are turning.

Water, Polders and Routes

The Does runs through Hoogmade. The Doesmolen and the Kalkmolen jointly serve as an auxiliary pumping station for the 90-hectare Doespolder; the pumping head is 1.50 metres. The area and pumping head refer to different measurements: 90 hectares describes the extent of the polder, while 1.50 metres is the height through which the water is pumped.

The Polderpad runs along a shell path beside the A4. This description identifies both the path’s surface and its route along the motorway. Unlike the information about the mills, the focus here is on the route itself, not the pumping function.

Church and Timeline

The church O.L. Vrouw Geboorte – De Goede Herder has been back in use since 2024. This date adds a more recent development in Hoogmade to the older information about the mills: for the church, the focus is on its return to use, while the information about the mills concerns construction, storm damage and restoration.

The years refer to different events: 1897 marks the construction of the Hoogmadese molen, 1956 the storm damage to the Vlietmolen, 1966/67 the restoration of the Grosmolen, and 2002 the restoration after which the Archimedean screw could once again be driven by wind. 2024 marks the church’s return to use. For visiting the Grosmolen, however, whether its sails are turning is what matters. This helps distinguish the year of construction, restoration, damage event and return to use.

Discover more destinations: Roelofarendsveen, Woubrugge, Rijpwetering, Kaag

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