The corn mill “De Hoop” is a smock mill in the centre of Culemborg.
A standard mill used to stand on the site of this mill.
The current mill was built in 1853-1854. This mill is higher than a standard mill, which was necessary for a better wind catch. Due to the development of the city, it became impossible to grind using the wind, which is why smock mills are usually typical city mills.
The mill ground using wind power until 1906. After that, the millstones were moved to the ground floor. The boxes in the mill body on the ground floor show where a grinding chair stood on which the pair of stones was placed. This was driven by a gas engine that was placed outside the mill. The sails, mill cap and smock were removed, the mill body was all that remained. The mill continued to function like this until 1917; in that year the miller died, which meant the end of the milling business. After this, the mill was no longer used as a mill. However, in the 1960s it did serve as a clubhouse for the local Harley Davidson motorcycle club.
In the second half of the 1980s, the first phase of the restoration of the mill began. One of the first things that had to be done was to ensure that rain and wind could no longer damage the mill body. This was solved by placing a temporary roof. This can still be seen on the square near the mill. After this, the beams, floors and stairs were renewed and the mill body was repointed. In 1992, the second phase of the restoration began and the scaffolding around the mill was built. Then, a year later, the hood and the sails were returned.
The millstones and some other parts of the grinding mechanism come from the Oranjemolen in Lewedorp (municipality of Borssele). That mill was also demolished to scaffolding height in 1993 and the parts mentioned were reused in the De Hoop corn mill. In September 1993, the mill was officially opened and a volunteer miller was appointed.
In 2007, the mill body had to be repointed and a year later, to mark the occasion, a facade stone was placed in the existing niche.
The corn mill “De Hoop” is a mill where grains are still milled by wind power. The flour is processed into Kuilenburgs Molenbrood, among other things. From the platform, at a height of approximately 10 metres, you have a magnificent view of the city of Culemborg and a number of its monuments.
The miller will be happy to show you around and take you through the entire mill.