Lone walker on the Maalwater by Mike Bing

About "Lone walker on the Maalwater"

by Mike Bing

About the artwork

A lone walker walks along the dike near the Maalwater past mill Varnebroek in Heiloo.

This is a scvhilder-like edit of a photo taken in December 2023.

The inmates of the Maalwater complained in 1590 that they were experiencing water problems since the incorporation into the Egmondermeerpolder, because they could no longer let their water run off into the new polder without further ado. Therefore, they separated from the Egmondermeer in 1591 and became responsible for drainage themselves. To the east, a polder mill was built on the ring canal of the Baafjespolder.

On 29 July 1741, the inmates concluded an agreement with the Egmondermeer, whereby the latter took over the drainage of the Maalwater again, for fl 200 per year. To this end, a culvert was placed in the separation quay with the Zuidermeer, so that the water could drain off to the Geestmolenpolder (Tenbruggencatenummer 00360) within the Egmondermeer. On 30 April 1859, the agreement was renewed, the price at the time being Fl. 250.

In November 1922, the polder commissioned K. Jongejans, steam mill making and carpentry shop in Westzaan, to supply an oak centrifugal pump driven by an 8-10 hp (6-7 kW) electric motor. This became a miserable failure. When tested in January 1923, the capacity turned out to be only 9 instead of 14 cubic metres per minute. Furthermore, the plant was eating up power. Improvements by Jongejans achieved nothing. In January 1925, the board finally relieved him of his duties, and switched to a HEMAF plant with an electrically driven steel screw pump. The motor was a 12.5 hp (9 kW) three-phase electric motor. By April 1926, the plant was ready.

Today, the relocated Varnebroek mill stands here.

Sources:
- "Inventaris van het archief van de Polder De Egmondermeer", D. Aten, 2003.
- "De zeeweringen en waterschappen van Noordholland", third edition, D. Kooiman, 1936.