This commemorative plaque was placed in 2024 by Stichting Mooi Voorburg (“Beautiful Voorburg” Foundation) on the occasion of its 65th anniversary. It was created in collaboration with Stichting Molen De Vlieger (Windmill “The Flyer” Foundation).
Windmill De Vlieger (“The Flyer”) on an original coloured postcard from 1904.
The mill is still standing completely free in the polder landscape.
(Collection Harrie Zonderop)
Here you are approximately in the middle of the Binckhorstpolder. The Binckhorstpolder is demarcated by the Haagse Vliet (Trekvliet), the Broeksloot, the Landscheiding between Delfland and Rijnland and the former Binckhorstkade and Brouckkade. This polder was originally drained by the Binckhorst windmill that stood on the Haagse Vliet.
In 1620 the polder board decided to build a new windmill in the middle of the polder, because it remained too wet there. The windmill was put into use in 1621 and was almost always called the Binnenmolen until well into the twentieth century. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the mill was called De Vlieger for the first time, after miller Arij de Vlieger. In 1872 a steam pumping station was built on the van Woudekade to drain the Veenpolder and Binckhorstpolder. Gradually, the windmill lost its function and after the Second World War it was no longer needed.
A photo from 1958 with the founders of the action committee Mooi Voorburg, from left to right. P. van Til, G.A. Koppe, C.H. Voorhoeve, L.J. Kok, J. Gosschalk and D. van Elk together with resident A. Zonderop (3rd from right).
(Photo: Wouter van Gool)
In April 1958, windmill De Vlieger was threatened with demolition due to planned new construction plans.
On October 17, 1958, concerned Voorburgers founded the Comittee Mooi Voorburg and started a campaign to preserve this oldest polder mill of this type in the Netherlands. And with success, because the city council at the time gave in to social pressure, so that the windmill was spared. The Committee gave rise to the Mooi Voorburg Foundation, which was founded on 16 April 1959.
Windmill De Vlieger seen in 1966 from the Rozenboomlaan. In the background, sports centre De Vliegermolen is under construction.
(Photo: M. Soonius)
However, after the mill was saved from demolition, it was built in more and more. Right next to the mill stood the former sports centre De Vliegermolen. In 1989, windmill De Vlieger was therefore moved to the Essesteijn polder landscape and set up as a windmill museum.
The old site of the windmill is now home to the Forum Kwadraat sports and cultural centre.
Relocation of the windmill, October 16th and 17th, 1989.
(Collection Molen De Vlieger)
Windmill De Vlieger at its current location in the Essesteijn polder.
The windmill has been set up as a windmill museum and is open to the public.
It is over 400 years old, largely original and can still run to drain the polder.
(Photo: MG photography – Michel Groen)
