The Middelste Molen paper mill in Loenen is the only authentic, water-powered paper mill in operation in the Netherlands. The paper industry in the Veluwe region reached its peak in the 18th and 19th centuries when dozens of mills were in operation. The numerous streams in the Veluwezoom National Park provided the water they needed for production, and drove the watermills.
In use since 1622
Paper has been produced in the Middelste Molen paper mill since 1622, shortly after the invention of the printing press. In the mill’s first few years, the paper it produced was taken to Deventer, which at the time, was the centre of the printing industry in the northern Netherlands.The area’s geology, the numerous streams along the edge of the Veluwe’s mountain ridge for example, provided an ideal environment for paper production. By around 1740, the Veluwe region had some 168 paper mills, making it one of the biggest industries in the country.
Property of Baron van Voorst tot Voorst
The building that stands here today rose out of the rubble of the original Middelste Molen paper mill that burnt down in 1886. At that time, the mill and the mill farm were leased from the lord of Ter Horst Castle. The lord of the castle in the 1920s, Baron van Voorst tot Voorst, subsequently sold the farm and the mill in 1927. The paper factory remained in operation until 1969, but was force to close down when the production of specialty paper became unprofitable.
Traditional paper making
Thankfully, in 1989, a group of regional paper factories came to the rescue. They bought the mill for a token amount and established a foundation for organising the restoration of the old mill back to its former glory, and for raising money. The Middelste Molen paper mill has been working operational ever since, and is open to the public. It is one of the few places in the Netherlands where you can see traditional papermaking techniques.
