Mills. Typically Dutch. Mills are also part of the Brabant landscape, and Vincent van Gogh loved them. During his years in Brabant, but also afterwards, he saw, described in his letters, drew and painted many of them. In Brabant alone there are about 130 polder, corn, wind and water mills. You can discover most of them by walking or cycling (via the Van Gogh bicycle or walking routes), but the great thing is that you can also visit quite a few mills. This is a special way to get to know these landmarks in our landscape and the miller's craft.
During his long stay in Brabant, Van Gogh proved particularly fond of water mills. There are some wonderful examples in the vicinity of Nuenen. How nice, therefore, that numerous parties have joined the Watermill Landscapes project, part of Van Gogh National Park. The project is part of the so-called Heritage Deal. This is an alliance of thirteen partners that focuses on the meaning and future of heritage in a changing Netherlands. Brabant coast its water mills awake!
May 11-12, 2024 is National Mills Day. Several mills will be free to visit for 1 or 2 days then, and there will also be special activities at a number of locations.
For up-to-date information, check the website or social media channels of the mill(s) you want to visit. Have fun!
North of Nuenen, in the open countryside, you will find the mill named after the area in which it stands. The mill is still used for grinding grain and is thus a "living" monument, well worth a visit! Featured many times in a work by Vincent van Gogh, this mill is a Van Gogh Monument.
This water mill can be found between Nuenen and Eindhoven. Van Gogh lived in Nuenen and regularly passed this largest water wheel in the Netherlands, which made the water mill a favorite drawing and painting object of this painter. This mill is a Van Gogh Monument.
Vincent worked on a number of paintings of mills in May 1884. For example, he painted the Collse watermill, which he passed as he walked from Nuenen to the train station to take the train to Eindhoven. The mill is a Van Gogh Monument.
During his stay in Nuenen, Vincent regularly went out into the surrounding area. It has been established that in August 1885 he depicted the mill De Vogelenzang in Lieshout twice as a black-and-white drawing with sheaves of wheat in the foreground. The mill is a Van Gogh Monument.
We know from correspondence between Theo and Vincent that Vincent was here with Anthon van Rappard at this mill.
The mill is private property, is not open for viewing and is not in operation. But of course you can go and look at it and enjoy this old mill and the authentic Brabant nature.
Vincent recorded this mill several times, such as in November 1884. He is said to have met Anton Kerssemakers at the mill, by his own account. The two became good friends and Vincent gave him painting lessons. The mill is a Van Gogh Monument.
This beautiful mill in Etten-Leur Noord takes its name from a polder of the same name, on the south bank of the small river De Mark. It is a unique polder mill for Brabant. Van Gogh passed the mill when he went to boarding school in Zevenbergen.
It could hardly be otherwise if Van Gogh saw this mill on one of his walks from 'Etten' to 'Leur'. The mill is still in full operation and stands on the Geerkade in Etten-Leur Noord. 'Op de Leur,' as they say here. The mill is open for visits every Wednesday and Saturday.
You pass the Bisschopsmolen in Etten-Leur on both the Van Gogh Cycle Route Etten-Leur North and South. It is a gem where tours are also given regularly.
The Akkermolen is a so-called standard mill. Van Gogh will certainly have seen it during his childhood years in Zundert. You pass this special mill on the Van Gogh National Park Walk Zundert.
Van Gogh's love of mills at home and abroad.
Collse watermill, Eindhoven, 1884.
(Collection Het Noordbrabants Museum)
Van Gogh's love of mills at home and abroad.
Windmill De Vogelenzang, Lieshout, 1885.
(Collection Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. Vincent Van Gogh Foundation)
Van Gogh's love of mills at home and abroad.
Opwetten watermill, Nuenen, 1884.
(Private collection)
Van Gogh's love of mills at home and abroad.
Genneper watermill, Eindhoven, 1884
(Collection El Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid)
Van Gogh's love of mills at home and abroad.
Mills at Dordrecht (Weeskinderendijk), 1881.
(Collection Kröller-Müller Museum)
Van Gogh's love of mills at home and abroad.
Mills and Kitchen Gardens, Montmartre Paris, 1887.
(Collection Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. Vincent Van Gogh Foundation)
Van Gogh's love of mills at home and abroad.
Scene de rue à Montmartre, Paris, 1887.
(Private collection)
Van Gogh's love of mills at home and abroad.
Le Moulin de la Galette, Paris, 1886.
(Private collection)
