Årsdale Mølle (the windmill in Årsdale)

Årsdale Mølle

Most windmills on Bornholm are Dutch-style windmills – with a massive, stationary tower and a rotating cap that can be turned into the wind. Their stable construction and larger size made them more efficient than earlier, simpler post mills.

Current Condition and Use

Årsdale Mølle is a listed and protected historical monument in Denmark.

Although flour production ended in 1986, the mill remains fully functional in technical terms: the mechanisms work, the sails can turn in the wind, and the cap can rotate when needed.

Today, the mill serves mainly as a tourist attraction – visitors can enter, see the machinery, and experience how a traditional mill operates. Next to the mill there is a shop where fresh flour can be purchased.

History

The mill was built in 1877 by H. P. Mikkelsen, its first owner.

Soon after, utility buildings, stables, a milling storehouse, and a bakery were added. The bakery closed around 1919.

In the first half of the 20th century, the mill was modernized: auxiliary engines were added, self-regulating sails were installed, and the sail structures were gradually improved to support milling during periods of low wind.

Architecture and Special Features

The mill stands on a brick foundation; the main tower has an octagonal shape, and the cap originally featured traditional decorative elements.

The sails were originally canvas-covered, later partly replaced by self-regulating types.

Several auxiliary engines were used to support production in low-wind periods – the first in 1904, with subsequent ones in 1939 and 1961.

Type: Dutch "smock mill" (windmill with a rotating cap).