Holländerwindmühle Straupitz

About the museum

A windmill was already turning in Straupitz in the 17th century, at that time a wooden post mill belonging to the manorial lords, which from 1655 was owned by the Counts of Houwald. From 1760 the Nitschke miller family operated the mill under hereditary lease, later as owners. After the post mill burned down in February 1850, Gottfried Nitschke had a masonry Dutch-style mill built that same year.

Over the following decades the complex grew: a sawmill was added in 1885, a steam locomobile at the beginning of the 20th century, and an oil mill in 1910, all driven by a common transmission using wind or steam power. Fires and a lightning strike led to alterations, and from 1924 the operation ran on electricity. Flour and oil production ended in the 1960s and 1970s, and in 1988 the mill passed into state ownership and fell increasingly into disrepair.

From the end of 1994, helpers on a job creation scheme first restored the oil mill. In 1998 the newly founded Mühlenverein Holländermühle e.V. (mill association) took over the complex, which belongs to the municipality. From 2001 to 2003 the mill tower was thoroughly renovated with grant funding and received a new cap with sails and a wind vane; in 2005 it was clad in larch shingles.

Today the complex is considered the only commercially producing triple windmill in Europe. In the historic oil mill, linseed oil is pressed before visitors' eyes, and since 2014 a modern oil mill on the grounds has supplemented production.

Highlights

• Dutch-style windmill from 1850 with rotating cap and wind vane
• Historic oil mill where linseed oil is pressed daily
• Sawmill from 1885 with vertical and horizontal frame saws
• Grain mill with the technology of a craft mill around 1930
• Mill festival on German Mill Day on Whit Monday

Permanent exhibitions

• Kornmühle im Mühlenturm – Fully preserved milling technology of a craft mill around 1930; at the top in the rotating cap you can see the windshaft and large cog wheel.
• Sägemühle – Working sawmill from 1885 with a wind-powerable full-frame saw and a rare horizontal frame saw for logs up to about one meter in diameter.
• Historische Ölmühle – Brandenburg's only originally preserved oil mill, where linseed oil is made before an audience using the traditional method, including roasting the meal.

Founded

1850

Operated by

Mühlenverein Holländermühle e.V.

Director

Gerd Nowak

Admission & discounts

Admission payable by cash only. With the Spreewald-GästeCard, 5% discount on admission.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The historic main building is not fully accessible. The sawmill is accessible by wheelchair, the oil mill for wheelchairs up to 70 cm wide. Food service with ramp, wheelchair-accessible restroom in the restroom container; the grounds are gravel or paved.

Kids & families

For safety reasons, children may only visit the mill accompanied by adults.

Getting there & parking

Until October 2026, Lübbener Straße in Straupitz is completely closed; coming from Lübben, take the detour from Neu Zauche via Sacrow, Waldow, and Laasow (allow about 20 extra minutes).

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Snack bar in the miller's house with about 60 seats and a terrace (self-service), including boiled potatoes with quark and linseed oil, Plinsen (small pancakes), and sheet cake. Mill shop with linseed oil, mill bread, and Spreewald products. Restroom use €0.50. Dogs are not allowed in the mill, but are allowed on the terrace.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit