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The Miller's Craft



The craft of a miller serves several functions in the Netherlands. One of these functions is that mills were used to drain the land. Even today, mills still serve that function, especially when there is heavy rainfall, the polder mills serve as a backstop to drain off extra water.

Due to a growing market for sustainable products, millers are seeing increased demand for artisanal products that are not often available in regular shops. Mills, and therefore millers' craft, play a significant social and cultural role in Dutch society, as well as contributing to a sense of identity and continuity. In the past, the craft of a miller was passed from master to apprentice.

In the miller’s craft, one needs many skills and techniques. The operation of a windmill requires an understanding of ever-changing weather conditions, so they can keep the sails in place and position their mill to catch the wind, while also taking precautions against dangerous events such as lightning strikes or storms, which could cause the mill to overturn.

Since watermills are not powered by wind, but by water, they require a different set of skills, such as knowing how to regulate water runoff quantities, managing water in inland areas, and removing sluices. There are currently forty professional millers who operate windmills and watermills. They have acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to run and maintain them in a good state of repair.

With a declining number of people earning their livelihood through the craft, millers today play a vital role in passing on the cultural history associated with the practice. But with the help of volunteers to keep they keep the craft alive. Several safeguarding activities are underway, including training, support, and capacity building, educational activities in schools, and traineeships.

As these millers and mill societies develop a concrete safeguarding action plan, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science is willing to provide financial support and monitor the entire process.

The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands and the Dutch Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage assist the millers and mill societies in organizing ‘inspiration days’ on specific topics such as the promotion and education of millers. As part of its plan to collaborate with other countries, the Netherlands created an international network of mill societies that can share knowledge and keep millers' craft alive internationally


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