Uiterdijk 4
9959 PK Onderdendam
T 050-3049100
F 050-3049655
E info@molenhunsingo.nl

History

History windmill 'Molen Hunsingo'

Molen Hunsingo is situated in the remains of a former corn mill and is located in the center of the village Onderdendam. The mill was built in 1855. In 1926, an electromotor was added and until 1939 the mill served as a corn mill. In 1939, the upper part of the mill was demolished and the mill served as a warehouse for construction material for years.

In 1997, the mill foundation Onderdendam bought the mill with the aim to fully restore it. In February 2004 Molen Hunsingo was declared 'realm monument'. At the end of 2004 the restoration of the lower part of the mill started. This restoration was part of the plan to stimulate tourist-recreational development in Onderdendam. The four floors, the stage and a small building next to the windmill were built to transform the windmill into a bed & Breakfast with lunch café and a museum. Phase 1 of the restoration was completed in May 2005.


In phase 2 the upper part of the windmill will be restored. However, for the restoration of the upper part a considerable amount of money is needed. The next few years the mill foundation will be raising funds in order to start the second phase of the restoration.

History Onderdendam

The picturesque village Onderdendam lies 14 km (9 miles) north of the city of Groningen. Onderdendam is a protected rural heritage and counts 16 monuments. Once, the village was the trade center of the region Hunsingo. Acknowledged by its central position on a junction of four waterways: the Boterdiep, the Winsumerdiep, the Warffumermaar and the Kardingermaar.

In the 17th century Onderdendam formed the center of the shipping in the northern part of Groningen. In that period, ships were pulled by a person ('scheepsjager') with a horse, to transport freight or people between city of Groningen and the surrounding areas. From the old inn, which is situated next to Molen Hunsingo, the Commissioner of Hunsingo maintained a transport service to and from Groningen, Winsum, Uithuizen, Warffum and Baflo. Annually, thousands of ships passed the village of Onderdendam. The exhibition on the 4th floor of the windmill tells the tale of the shipping in and around Onderdendam.

If the captain ran out of money and couldn't afford to rent a person with horse, his wife had to pull the ship. In the center of Onderdendam stands a statue of 'het Jagertje', a woman who pulls a ship. This statue is an ode to all women who had to do this heavy duty.In the winter months there were dozens of ships in the village. The number of inhabitants then doubled. The captains populated the large number of pubs and inns in the village.

In 1803, Onderdendam became the capital of the Hunsingo district. From that year official law was spoken in Onderdendam. Near the waterfront lots of country houses arose. The wealthy period of Onderdendam came to an end by the arrival of steam - and diesel engines. The road transport became more important than water transport. When in 1887 the rail track from Groningen to Delfzijl was constructed and the track passed Bedum instead of Onderdendam, this meant the end of a prosperous village. What remaines of this period are the splendid housing along water and its rich history. Onderdendam is surrounded by the larger villages like Bedum, Winsum, Middelstum and Warffum. The city of Groningen is also close by. The splendid landscape with its picturesque villages (mostly protected rural sites) is very suitable for excursions by foot, bicycle or canoe.