Volunteers

The volunteers of the Molen De Adriaan Foundation (SMA) ensure that all visitors, young and old, can enjoy their visit to our fully functioning flour mill and annex mill museum.

More than 60 volunteers run the Adriaan windmill together. Most of them act as tour guides or desk clerks. The Adriaan windmill receives approximately 24,000 visitors each year. During our opening hours, there are always one desk clerk and two tour guides scheduled for a 4-hour shift. Every 30 minutes a group of up to 12 visitors with a tour guide enters the mill.

The reception and guided tours by our volunteers really make the difference. Because of our original and personal approach, the Adriaan windmill receives annually many positive reviews on sites such as Tripadvisor.

The SMA is always looking for volunteers, especially people who speak several languages. Dutch does not have to be their first language. After a short training you can quickly start working independently, as part of the volunteer team.

Haarlem is home to a rich landscape of windmills. In addition to our own mill De Adriaan, you will find several others in and around the city, including the Schoterveense Molen, De Eenhoorn, De Hommel and the Vijfhuizer. The mill De Veer, located on the border of Haarlem and Penningsveer, and the Groenendaalse Molen in Heemstede are also part of this remarkable heritage.

These mills are kept running by a dedicated group of volunteers. While keeping a mill turning is important, proper and professional maintenance is essential. In Haarlem, the Stichting Molens Zuid-Kennemerland (SMZK) works actively to maintain the mills in excellent condition, safeguarding this valuable heritage for future generations.

Since 1984, the foundation has had its own workshop, made available by the municipality of Haarlem. This workshop forms the beating heart of the organisation. Every Wednesday evening, work is carried out here using professional machinery and a wide range of tools.

Would you like to learn more about the windmills in Haarlem and the surrounding area, or about the work of SMZK? Visit: https://www.smzk.nl or send email to smzk@smzk.nl