Het Jonge Schaap (The Young Sheep), Zaandam

Originally built in 1680, the sawmill the Young Sheep once stood proudly in Zaandam until it was dismantled in 1942. Fast forward to 2005-2007, a replica was meticulously constructed at Zaanse Schans using the original centuries-old plans, and also the precise measurements taken back in 1942, all enhanced with modern computer technology. This project was about preserving the traditional craft of millwrighting for future generations. One of the young carpenters involved in the reconstruction later became the miller at The Young Sheep, where he now processes local timber like oak, elm, and pine.

The Young Sheep holds the distinction of being the last 'top-turning' timber sawmill in the Netherlands. Its unique hexagonal mill body houses three frame saws, including a rare 'scalloped frame saw' used for trimming the bark from planks. Located on Kalverringdijk, the mill offers a glimpse into 17th-century timber sawing technology, which was instrumental during the Dutch Golden Age. Visitors can explore an exhibition cellar beneath the mill, where they can watch the sawing process from below. Logs, soaked in the authentic timber harbor by the dike, are pulled up into the mill to be sawn.

At its peak, the Zaan region boasted around 109 top-turning sawmills, but The Young Sheep is the last of its kind. It's also one of just eight hexagonal mills in the Netherlands and the only one that serves as a sawmill. The reconstruction project was made possible by the efforts of the ‘De Zaansche Molen’ Association and the ‘Het Jonge Schaap’ Foundation, who ensured this piece of history would live on.