Windmill De Vrijheid is unique, because it has many original parts from its hey-day. For instance, it has a cast-iron windshaft which was made in Schiedam in 1838 and subsequently placed in the windmill. It is the oldest of its type in the Netherlands.
Volunteer miller Rob Batenburg about De Vrijheid:
"From the late 70’s onwards De Vrijheid has had a great influence on my life: I worked as a volunteer and caught the “windmill virus”. I met my wife in the windmill, earned my living here and started to work as a builder of windmills and volunteer miller. Finally, my children are also fond of windmills because of De Vrijheid!"

Address:
Windmill De Vrijheid
Noordvest 40
3111 PH Schiedam

The plans for building De Vrijheid (1785) met with some resistance. Various distillers were against the spot which was chosen, namely between windmill De Noord and windmill De Star (built in 1716 and destroyed by fire and subsequently broken down in 1823). The distillers were afraid that the new windmill because of its width and height would hinder the wind-sail of other windmills.

In 1911 a gas engine was placed in De Vrijheid which was used at times when there was hardly any wind. A few years later, in 1917, the work for the distilleries came to a close. A new owner, Cornelis Antonius Knock, used the windmill for his cattle-fodder firm. During the winter of 1944/1945 De Vrijheid ground peas and beans for the soup-kitchen in Schiedam. After the war all activities stopped.

In the 1960’s the windmill was bought by the municipality of Schiedam. At that moment a thorough restoration was needed. Beforehand a group of volunteers started cleaning the windmill. As a large group of pigeons had found shelter and a breeding-place in the windmill, cleaning was a tough job. On 5th November 1974 after an extensive restoration De Vrijheid could finally grind again. The windmill ground grain for the Echte Bakkersgilde (Genuine Bakers’ Guild), a group of traditional bakers in the province of Zuid-Holland. In the late 1990’s restoration work was carried out again. At the moment De Vrijheid is not used as a grinding windmill. However, the mill is fully equipped and has three pairs of millstones, one of which can be electrically driven in need. However, volunteers make sure that the sails of De Vrijheid are turning during the weekend and sometimes during the week.