De Vriendschap, Veenendaal
Facts and practical information
The windmill De Vriendschap is located on the Nieuweweg in Veenendaal.
It is a wooden octagonal thatched tower mill on a square stone substructure, built in 1872 as the successor to a standerd mill demolished around 1870 on the Molenstraat in Stichts Veenendaal with the name "Old Mill". The wooden octagon was not built new and in all probability comes from another, demolished mill. In 1952, the running gear was removed from the mill to make way for silos. Since 1995, however, the mill has been fully restored.
The mill has two grinding couples with 16der artificial stones. The supply of grain is fully automated as well as the discharge of the flour, which is collected in big bags. With a wind strength of 4 Bft each grinding head can grind 300 kg of grain per hour.
The mill has a flight of 22.90 meters. The sails are equipped with Bussel fronts and automatic brake valves. The cast iron upper shaft, cast in 1994, is from iron foundry Hardinxveld. Both the long spout and the tail beam are made of steel.
The mill, after a long period of disrepair, was restored in 1995 and re-commissioned by Prince Claus as a grinding windmill.
The last owner of the milling complex is descended from the miller family that operated the mill for many years and after restoration, along with other millers, runs/grinds the mill Wednesday afternoons Friday afternoons and Saturdays on a volunteer basis. Next to the mill is a mill store selling local & flour products.
Veenendaal
Utrecht