ABOUT US

Molen de Ster and the de Sterremolen foundation work together to preserve wood saw mill Molen de Ster

The Sterremolen Foundation was established on August 27, 1988 to realize the reconstruction of sawmill de Ster at the Molenpark in Utrecht. Since the completion of the reconstruction in 1998, the Sterremolen foundation has been promoting the cultural-historical value of the sawmill with sawing demonstrations, guided tours and cultural events.

Molen de Ster rents out the mill for business meetings, presentations, company outings, cultural events, weddings, receptions and social gatherings. Wednesday till Sunday there is a cute mill cafe you can visit for food and drinks. Thanks to this income we can pay the rent and other fixed costs of the mill and with that we keep the mill going.

History of Molen de Ster (1739-1911)

On the Leidsche Vaart, outside the Catharijnepoort, there used to be sawmills with the names Sint Job, Bijgeval and De Ster. They stood outside the city in the then still open field, favorably oriented to the most common westerly wind direction, and easily accessible by timber rafts and ships via the Leidsche Vaart.

The first sawmill, Sint Job, was built in 1721. The clients were Jordan van der Ven and Arien van der Starren. This mill burned down in 1815 and was rebuilt as wood sawmill De Bijgeval for the new owner Cornelis-Jan van Veersen. In 1909, the Bijgeval was demolished.

The second sawmill, De Ster, dates from 1739 and was commissioned by Van der Starren, who gave the mill its name. Four generations of Van der Starren sawed with this mill in a span of almost a century. In 1876, Willem Jan de Wit bought De Ster windmill and, a few years later, also De Bijgeval. The De Wit family comes from De Rijp, a small town in the north of the Netherlands. In the city of Utrecht, where the necessary construction activities are being developed at that time, they see good opportunities for the trade in wood.

In 1911, the power of the wind was replaced by electricity. The windmill, on the roof of the sawmill, is then no longer needed and gets demolished. Timber trader De Wit continued to operate until the early 1980s and was located in the same location in Utrecht for over a hundred years.

The Rebuilding of Molen de Ster (1988-1999)

After the end of the business activities of timber trader De Wit, the first plans to rebuild the mill were created. There is enthusiasm for the plan from the municipal council, but the early 1980s is a period in which belts must be tightened. It is too early for rebuilding plans. The advice is to wait for better times.

Later when plans are presented for a work of art on top of the sawmill, it’s the time to act. People come in action for the rebuilding of the mill and against the work of art. Plans for the placement with a second-hand mill on top of the sawmill don’t make it. A completely new mill will have to be made for the reconstruction.

On June 28, 1988, the Sterremolen foundation was founded, which aims to make the rebuilding of the mill possible. It is a long road to gather all the financial resources, but ten years later the mill comes to the mill yard as a construction package. In September 1998, the mill hull was placed. The official opening of the complete sawmill took place on June 22, 1999.

ABOUT US

Molen de Ster and the de Sterremolen foundation work together to preserve wood saw mill Molen de Ster

THE TEAM

OUR HISTORY

History of Molen de Ster (1739-1911)

The Rebuilding of Molen de Ster (1988-1999)