The 'Groenendaalse Molen', Heemstede

The 'GROO-nun-DAAL-suh' windmill.
'Heemstede' = 'HAME-STAY-duh'

It is supposed to have been on this spot since at least 1781, most likely even earlier, as part of the large property owned by a British industrialist surnamed Hope.  The windmill experts doubt that it was built for any serious purpose at all and landscape experts say that it was quite possibly a 'folly' -- a fake windmill, especially as local archaeologists have not found any evidence of it having ground anything at all.  There was even a time when the ground floor was 'occupied' by kangaroos from a nearby 'zoo' (as you know, some really weathy people have private zoos).  In the 80s, though, local government came up with the idea to give it a proper function, which was to assist in the draining of the canals and ponds in the estate itself, and the proper equipment for this purpose was installed, so this little windmill now enjoys official recognition.  GROO-nendaal is now a park, and a beautiful one, too, and this little 'folly' is no longer a 'folly' and has finally been taken seriously.  Admittedly, though, it is such a tiny thing.

By the way, the bridge on which it is standing is called... hold breath... the Royal Leamington Spa bridge, and official representatives of the real Royal Leamington Spa even came over for the inauguration, which took place in 1993.  So... we have a wealthy British industrialist who built his own private windmill, and a bridge named after the twin or sister city of Heemstede in England.  Truly, windmill hunting has its rewards in terms of learning something new on a regular basis.

O ja, if you haven't yet guessed.... the camera is back in good working order!  Do not ask how this happened, I'm thankful enough that it did.  Apparently, some metal ring inside was shoved out of place and then it somehow shoved itself back into place.  Probably the work of elves.  I oh so seriously owe them one.

At home, it was back to the usuals.  No communique from MNL, but I am presuming the Viking is hard at work.  As for the weather, no cause for complaint.  At all.  It will be like this the whole week, if the forecast is correct.