Cornmill the Hope by The Utregter Photoraphy

About "Cornmill the Hope"

by The Utregter Photoraphy

About the artwork

It is known that there was a mill as early as 1556. In the centuries thereafter, this mill has been renovated regularly. The last time was in 1899. The existing mill (a grondzeiler) was demolished and replaced by a tower mill. The lower stone section was built on site and the mill proper came from the Zaanstreek. There the mill was used as an oil mill. In Bunschoten the mill was converted to a corn mill.

After 1912, the mill was gradually mechanised, with the result that the mill proper fell into disrepair. In 1929, the windmill was put out of action for good. A few years later the sails, the top cover and the scaffolding were demolished. The remaining part was covered with zinc and remained in use as a motor mill. In 1967, the remains of the mill were demolished and a showroom was built on the same spot. Cornmill De Hoop seemed to be gone for good.

Fortunately, from 1999 onwards, plans were developed to rebuild the mill. On the initiative of the Spakenburg Botterwerf Foundation, a new foundation was established for this purpose: Bunschoten Cornmill Foundation.

Plans were worked out in which the silhouette of the old flourmill De Hoop served as a model. Funds were collected by various local and regional companies, the municipality of Bunschoten and some funds. After a few years sufficient funds were available to rebuild the mill.

Exactly 40 years after the demolition, on 30 november 2007 the commission was given and the construction started. In May 2009 the mill