In Oud-Alblas, milling history and route planning come together: the windmills represent different purposes, while a named cycling loop connects the village with other stops. For your stay, you can consider two questions separately: Which aspect of the mills’ history interests you most, and would you like to include Oud-Alblas in a cycling or walking tour? This leads to two areas of focus: the historical functions of the mills and finding your way on cycling or walking routes.
The Mills and Their Functions
De Hoop mill grinds around 500 kilograms of wheat a week for home bakers. This weekly amount gives a clear idea of its current work and distinguishes it from the historical roles of the other mills. De Hoop is used for grain processing; the Peilmolen and Kooijwijkse Molen, by contrast, are associated primarily with water management in the past.
Until the 1950s, the Peilmolen, together with a motor pumping station, drained the 630-hectare Peilgebied Zuidzijde. The Kooijwijkse Molen worked in partnership with the Noordelijke Kooijwijkse Molen: together, they drained the Noordzijde polder. The difference also lies in how they worked together: the Peilmolen was assisted by a motor pumping station, while the Kooijwijkse Molen worked with a second mill.
Construction History and Signaling Role
The Peilmolen was built in 1819 on the site of a post mill that had been destroyed by fire. The date can therefore be linked to a specific predecessor building. The Kooijwijkse Molen, in turn, replaced an older windmill before 1866; it had been demolished because of its poor condition. The two mills thus have different points of reference in time: the Peilmolen’s construction is dated to 1819, while the Kooijwijkse Molen replaced its predecessor before 1866.
Another distinctive feature of the Kooijwijkse Molen is its former role as a beacon or signal windmill. A lifting frame for a lamp is still visible on its upper structure. This former signaling role and the visible feature offer a different perspective on milling history than the mills’ drainage functions. When comparing the mills, you can therefore look at their functions as well as their construction history and surviving details.
Cycling and Walking Routes
The Molenroute Alblasserwaard is a cycling loop. It starts in Alblasserdam, passes through Groot-Ammers, Bleskensgraaf and Oud-Alblas, and ends back in Alblasserdam. This start-and-finish information is important for planning: Oud-Alblas lies along the route, but is not its stated starting or finishing point.
TOP Oud-Alblas offers parking and serves as a starting point for various cycling and walking routes. This provides a different way to plan than the Molenroute: it is a named cycling loop that starts and finishes in Alblasserdam, while the TOP is a starting point for various routes. If you are walking, the TOP provides a starting point for walking routes; for a cycling tour through several villages, the Molenroute offers a specific alternative.
The mills’ different histories and the routes offer two clear starting points for your stay in Oud-Alblas: you can focus on the mills’ former functions or plan your outing around the type of route you prefer. When looking for a hotel, it helps to decide on your focus first and then search for accommodation.
Discover more destinations: Nieuw-Lekkerland, Ottoland.
Return to the main travel overview: Molenwaard.
