The steam mill Cruquius is itself a Netherlands 'Rijksmonument' for the steam history of the engine within, and it has also been declared an Anchor Point of ERIH, The European Route of Industrial Heritage. It is thought to be the largest steam engine – and certainly the largest beam engine – ever built. The engine was built by Harvey & Co, of Hayle, Cornwall.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_De_Cruquius
Tags: Cruquius steam engine pumping station waterworks steam mill museum history water culture Haarlemmermeer
Heavy duty heaving. The center weight weighs 60 tons.
Tags: Cruquius steam engine pumping station waterworks steam mill museum history water culture Haarlemmermeer
It is the simple idea of emtying a puddle with buckets of water.
Tags: Cruquius steam engine pumping station waterworks steam mill museum history water culture Haarlemmermeer
The digging of peat created lakes in Westland of Holland, which later turned into one large lake. Storms with westerly winds made the water erode land, threatening the cities of Amsterdam and Haarlem. Because wind mills did not have the capacity required, it took 200 years before the idea could come to fruition, of digging a canal and emptying the water from the inland sea into the canal.
And it took steam mills such as the one in Cruquius, to do that job.Quite an accomplishment.
This photo of the Netherlands shows how the Lowlands would look without land reclamation, the protection of dikes and ever alert water management.
Tags: Cruquius steam engine pumping station waterworks steam mill museum history water culture Haarlemmermeer