Gelkenes Molen

The Gelkenes Molen, also known as the “Molen van Gelkenes”, is a historic windmill near Groot-Ammers, a village in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. This mill is located on a dike near the river Lek and played an important role in the water management of the region.The Gelkenes Mill is a so-called “groundsailer”, which means that the mill has a low building that allows the rotor blades to get closer to the ground to catch the wind. This mill was originally built in 1740 and served as a polder mill to keep the ground dry. Polder mills were traditionally used to pump water from low-lying areas, making the land usable for agriculture and housing.Over the years, the Gelkenes Mill has been restored and renovated several times to preserve its historic character. The mill is not only a functional heritage that is part of the region's water management, but also a cultural and historical symbol of the Dutch milling tradition.