StadSherStel amSterdam

administration a concession to extract peat fromthe polder; this was still in great demand as fuel inthe growing city of Amsterdam.Conversion to ScrewPrincipleWhen the peat extraction was completed in 1896,the water table had to be lowered by over threemetres to guarantee dry feet for the farmers andmarket gardeners who were to occupy the polder.This could not be achieved with the paddle wheeland a new, stone screw channel was laid centrallyunder the mill. Both channels still exist, under andpartly behind the mill. A quarter of a century later,in 1921, the windmill was replaced by an electricpump house at the base of the dike. The wind wastoo fickle to provide the required drainage of thepolder, which was now fully occupied by farms andmarket gardens. The superstructure of the mill wasremoved and the remainder was converted into livingaccommodation for the polder master.The Akermolen in 2008,before the restorationMilitary FunctionThe waterworks, which are still located underthe mill remains, were used not only to keep theAkerpolder dry, but also to flood it in time of war.In this function, the mill formed part of the waterengineering works of the Amsterdam Line, the forerunnerof the Amsterdam Defence Lines. For thisreason, the Minister for War had to be involved inthe rebuilding. With the creation of the AmsterdamDefence Lines, which were started in 1883, the oldLine lost its primary military function. The southwestflank, where the mill was located, was neverthelessincorporated into the new defence works asa secondary line.With thanks to Dr Han Stricker, a volunteer withStichting De Oude Molen, who kindly researched thehistory of the Akermolen.The Akermolen in 2010,after the restoration40 | 41 |