Paper mill

In the paper mill, you can see how hand-crafted paper is made. A little further into the wood is the printer's, where the printer demonstrates the old printing process.   

There were several paper mills in the Veluwe area. Only coarse paper, packing paper for example, was made here. There were windmills in the Zaan area that could be employed for larger-scale production. Due to the clear water, these mills were particularly suited to the manufacture of white paper. Steam-powered paper factories took over production in the 19th century.  

The paper mill at the museum is a water mill. The water wheel drives an internal camshaft. The cams lift large, wooden drop hammers which pound the linen rags into a pulp. Frames are used to shape the paper into the correct format. The paper is first pressed to remove excess moisture and then hung to dry in the loft.  

Type of mill
Water mill (overshot mill).   Back to overview of buildings