|
Municipal Museum Mill the Falcon"De Valk" (The Falcon") is a tower mill, dating from 1743. It has seven floors, all of which are open to the public. The milling machinery can still be seen on the top three storeys. When the mill was working,grain was hoisted up to the very top floor, then poured between the paired millstones on the level below. Flour from the mill was collected and bagged on the next floor down, known as the meal attic. The mail attic gives access to the outer platform, which offers a wonderful view across Leiden. At certain times, visitors can also watch the mill's sails turning.On the ground floor, the living quarters have been preserved just as they were in the last miller's days. With numerous old paintings and photographs on view, visitors can sample the atmosphere of life at the turn of the century. On the first floor, the history of mills and milling is illustrated with a slide show. The exhibition rooms above provide a wealth of information about milling machinery and about Dutch windmills in general. Throughout the mill, visitor information is given in 4 languages. The Windmill grinds! Recently the grindingmechanism has been taken into operation again. There is a chance you will catch the miller at work. The whole-wheat flour is sold in the museumshop. |