The entire ‘paltrok mill’ turns on a ring of rollers. There were once more than 200 of these mills in existence…

Sawmill ‘De Gekroonde Poelenburg’ catches the eye with its distinctive light green color and rather atypical shape. The unusual silhouette of this type of windmill gives rise to the name ‘paltrok’, which comes from the sleeveless cape or cloak that men once commonly wore. Because the work floor of a paltrok mill is open on three sides, the strikingly painted frame saws bearing warnings such as ‘Beware’, ‘Watch out’ and ‘Then touch’ are clearly visible. Turning the mill to face the wind is accomplished by rotating the entire mill on a ring of stone rollers. The paltrok mill was once a highly successful type of windmill, with hundreds of them previously operating in the region. Only two now remain in the Zaan region, however, and three throughout the rest of the Netherlands. Another striking feature is the ‘makelaar’ or crown post on the roof ridge at the rear of the mill. This crown post was not just an ornament – it had a specific function. If the windmill wasn’t properly turned towards the wind, the wind would blow through the slots carved in the post, making a whistling sound that alerted the miller. You can take a closer look at a similar crown post at the Windmill Museum further along the dike.