windpaintmill in Holland

The Cat is the only working windpaintmill in the world. The mill is located at the Zaanse Schans in the municipality of Zaanstad. In total, about 50 paint mills adorned the Zaan land. The original mill 'De Kat' was built in 1645 as an oil mill and burned on November 27, 1782, the mill was rebuilt. This mill was in use until 1904 and was partially demolished. In 1960, on the substructure, which was left standing together with the shed, the upper part and the interior of the paint mill 'De Duinjager' were placed.

Since then the mill has been living as a paint mill 'De Kat'. The Duinjager was in the Oostzijderveld and dated from 1696. This Duinjager burned on 19 June 1781, after which rebuilding followed. The mill is in daily operation every day and due to its prominent location as the third mill on the Kalverringdijk, it is one of the busiest windmills in the Netherlands. At the mill, some professional millers still manufacture pigments for paint in the traditional way.