Mill Repairs in the Zaan Region
In the 17th century, the residents of West and East Zaan reclaimed land around the Zaan river, creating new settlements such as Zaandijk, Wormerveer, and Koog. Windmills were built here to saw timber and press oil from seeds. Later, techniques were developed to hull barley and rice—commodities in high demand, as barley porridge was a staple food. Production flourished, and many successful companies in the timber and food industries have their roots in this region.
With the introduction of the steam engine, many windmills were replaced by powered systems. At the end of the 19th century, H.B. Klinkenberg established a smithy on the Breedweer in Koog aan de Zaan. The company was initially focused on repairing drive systems. But large regional clients—such as Honig, Cacao de Zaan, and Duyvis Janz—soon required more than just maintenance and repair. In response, Klinkenberg B.V. shifted its specialization toward the development of Screw Conveyors.
