Oostkapelle historic working flour mill

The flour from the mill goes into the bread at the village bakery. 'Vaders Bakkerij, Dorpstraat 50, Oostkapelle.

Molen d’Arke Flour Mill, Noordweg, Oostkapelle. If the sails are turning he's open and on Saturday 10h00 - 16h00!  http://www.molendarke.nl 

“Lennart's son is always at his side on Saturdays.  He tells the visitors all about what's going on in the mill as the sails are turning; the mill stones are grinding the grain and the flour comes pouring down through the meal chute into huge paper bags! There's a wonderful cosy rhythmical sound to it all!”

Adriaan Minderhoud who took over the mill in 1950 came from De Dijkmolen known as 'Prince Hendrik' in Westkapelle, which was destroyed during the WW2 bombing in 1944.  The mill stone stands on the dijk today where his mill once stood.

Molen d’Arke the present flour mill in Oostkapelle dates from 1858. The oldest part of the mill is the the top wheel (from the previous mill from 1671). Adriaan Minderhoud gave it the name 'Arke', passed the mill down to his son Willem and now Lennart van der Torren runs the mill (since he was 15 years old he helped out and at 18 he graduated as a miller.

Lennart steps in to help his son if he needs to, like when he's turning the mill's 'steering wheel' outside to move the sails with the wind, or to pull a bag of grain up through the trap doors!  Kids can observe the milling process and marvel at this old technology close up and also enjoy the steep stairs and huge weighing scales!  They leave small mill stones lying about for the kids to try grinding grain.   Only during Covid times are you only allowed to enter and experience the mill by appointment. Lennart and his son keep the shop going through the entrance door like two birds in a nest popping their heads out and going back inside to check on the mill!  Every other cultural event has been cancelled this summer, I was happy to see their faces again, catch up and take some pancake mix, muesli and jam home!  They also sell flour, bread and cake mix, other local delicacies such as Zeeuws stroop or syrup, stroop waffles, honey, juice, alcohol and beer, sweets, chocolate and souvenirs!  In front of the mill is the old house where the old miller once lived and across the street is Robbert Boogaard bike hire, really good friendly service there too also for repairs or to pump up your bike tyres! In the field behind the mill I've also seen ring riding horse competitions.