This 18th-century windmill produces pigments the old-fashioned way: with wind power. The windmill has a fascinating history tied to the Dutch Golden Age when the Netherlands was not only a maritime power but also a center for fine arts, supplying vibrant pigments to the likes of Rembrandt and Vermeer.
A windmill was initially built at this site in 1646, but that original mill was damaged and a new one was built in 1782. Four giant blades harness the wind to power grinding stones, which crush different types of rocks into fine powders used to tint oil paints, watercolors, and more.
Today, visitors can see the grinding stones in action, crushing raw materials like chalk and minerals into fine pigment powders. The mill has to be thoroughly cleaned between production of each different pigment, so large quantities are made at a time. Depending on the day, you might see minerals like lapis lazuli or malachite being ground into blue and green pigments, respectively, or more mundane materials like roof tiles, which are turned into the appropriately named "tile red" pigment.
The interior of De Kat is a beautiful mix of traditional Dutch craftsmanship and industrial ingenuity. Climbing the steep ladders inside, visitors reach the upper deck, where panoramic views of the surrounding area unfold. From here, you can see the Zaan River, dotted with traditional wooden houses and other iconic windmills, painting a quintessential Dutch landscape.
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