Mills
In former times, every village had at least one windmill or watermill: the year 1424 – as it is documented – was the first time sails of a windmill turned in the wind in Esens. Around the year 1900, the East Friesian mill stock reached the greatest number of 174 mills.
Nearly half of these mills have been preserved. The pinned disk mill of Aurich is five floors high, and as such, the highest still fully operative mill. To use the wind in an optimal manner, it was, as it was surrounded by houses, built two floors higher than others. Of course, only a few of the old mills serve their original purpose, grinding grain, or, in form of scoop mills, draining wetlands.
In Krummhörn-Greetsiel, Großefehn-Spetzerfehn, Friedeburg-Horsten and Zetel-Ruttel for example, real millers are still at work. Some mills became museums. Those that no longer have their grinding facilities any more, serve as picture galleries, cafés, lodges or are even used as registry offices. For tourists, the visit of these historical buildings is an ideal possibility to learn about the region and the people. Besides, travelling the windy region of East Friesland is an interesting educational experience of the technical past of this region.
Steenblock mill in Großefehn-Spetzerfehn
Here, the first mill was built in 1818 by the miller Eckhoff. Soon after its inauguration, it was sold to J.F. Müller, who also owned the mills at Strackholt and Ostgroßefehn.
Scoop Mill Wynhamster Kolk in Bunde
The wind and water mill Wynhamster Kolk in the village of Ditzumerhammrich was built in 1804 and serves to drain the Wynhamster Kolk – being the deepest place in Niedersachsen with 2,50 meters under sea level. „Wynhamster Kolk" describes a region which in former times was the greatest „Kolk“ (lake) of the Rheiderland, with 72 ha.
Mound mill in Edewecht-Westerscheps
The municipality of Edewecht, to which the village of Westerscheps belongs, sports a windmill in its coat of arms. Only four of the 40 mills are still in operation in the Ammerland around 1900, have survived the mill dying period.
Mill ensemble in Westoverledingen
There was already a Bock windmill at the Ems dike at Mitling-Mark (in which grain was grinded) in the 16th century. The single floor gallery Dutchman mill with “Steert” (see Edewecht) was rebuilt in 1843 after a fire.
Hulling mill in Wittmund
As early as 1741, Poppe Embken constructed the hulling mill to shell barley, with a dwelling-house and a barn, making it the oldest gallery Dutch mill in north-western Germany. In the 30s, the mill also received a grinding mill for rye and wheat.
