De Rentmeester, Menaldum

Geschiedenis

De Rentmeester is a smock mill in Menaldum, Friesland, Netherlands which was built in Dronrijp in 1857 and moved to a new site at Menaldum in 1982, replacing a mill that had burnt down. The mill has been restored to working order. It is listed as a Rijksmonument.HistoryThe mill was built in 1857 to drain the 135ha Noorderpolder at Dronrijp. A mill had previously been built on that site in 1833. For many years, a diesel engine located in the mill had worked the Archimedes' screw. In latter years, the mill stood derelict.The Original mill on the site now occupied by De Rentmeester was De Kooi (The Cow). It was built in 1833 to drain the 365ha Zuidoosterderpolder. The mill burnt down on 25 March 1969. The mill was moved here in 1981 by millwright Tacoma of Stiens. The mill's restoration was celebrated with an official opening ceremony on 29 October 1982. A further restoration took place in 1995. The name De Rentmeester was given to the mill at its new location. A new Archimedes' screw was fitted on 1 May 2012. On 23 February 2013, a bolt in the brake broke, and the mill was nearly set on fire by friction between the brake and brake wheel.The mill is owned by the Stichting Molens in Menaldumadeel. The mill is listed as a Rijksmonument, number 28611.