Councilmember Reopens Monument on National Mill Day
The sails of ’t Slot are turning again
On National Mill Day, Saturday, May 10, Alderman Thierry van Vugt—who oversees Real Estate and Heritage, among other areas—will officially recommission the historic ’t Slot mill. The mill has been out of service since September 2023 due to necessary safety renovations.
Van Vugt will then release the brake of ’t Slot. The brake is the mill’s braking mechanism. It is used to stop or slow down the sails; it is comparable to a car’s handbrake.
’t Slot is a historic grain mill dating from 1832, located at De Punt on the foundations of the former castle of the Lords of Ter Gouw. Following an inspection, it was found that the welded joints in the mill rods—crucial components of the sail cross—were no longer safe. In consultation with the millers, the municipality of Gouda decided to temporarily halt the sails of both ’t Slot and De Roode Leeuw.
The sails have since been replaced, marking the completion of an important chapter in the preservation of Gouda’s mill heritage. “It’s not good for a mill to stand still. A stationary mill deteriorates,” said Janneke van Denderen, chair of the Association of Gouda Millers. “We’re glad we can operate again. Moreover, three millers-in-training recently earned their diplomas, so we’re ready for the future.”
Deemed safe
’t Slot is one of three mills owned by the municipality of Gouda. The other two are De Roode Leeuw (1727), one of the oldest operational grain mills in the Netherlands, and the Mallemolen (1804), a historic polder mill that serves as an emergency drainage facility for the Korte Akkeren neighborhood. The Mallemolen was inspected in 2021 and found to be safe.
During National Mill Day on May 10, hundreds of mills across the Netherlands will open their doors to the public. In Gouda, too, visitors are warmly welcome at the reopened ’t Slot mill to celebrate this special occasion.
