# Fire destroys 1864 windmill near Stiens in Friesland

> The Slagdijkster windmill, a restored polder mill on the Elfstedentocht route, collapsed in a large fire overnight. Nobody was hurt.

Society · published 2026-11-14 11:58 · https://nlnow.nl/a/fire-destroys-historic-1864-windmill-near-stiens-in-friesland/

A large fire destroyed the historic Slagdijkster windmill, built in 1864, overnight between Friday and Saturday. The mill stood on the Slachtedyk near Stiens, a village north of Leeuwarden in Friesland, and collapsed. Nobody was injured. The cause of the fire is unknown.

The mill stood on the Finkumer Vaart, on the northernmost stretch of the Elfstedentocht route, so skaters and television viewers know it well. It kept the Slagdijksterpolder dry until a diesel engine took over in 1931. Its cap and sails were removed a few years later. A restoration began in 2006. The mill regained its cap a year later and its sails afterwards.

The fire brigade received the first report just after 00:30 and quickly upgraded its response to a large fire. Crews from Stiens, Sint Annaparochie and Hallum fought the blaze. The aerial platform from Leeuwarden and the large-volume water transport unit from Harlingen were called out but not used, because the mill collapsed soon after the first fire engines arrived.

The fire was fierce and sparks were flying, so firefighters also sprayed several nearby homes with water during the blaze to protect them.

## Background

- **Elfstedentocht**: The Elfstedentocht is a long-distance speed skating tour over natural ice through the eleven historic cities of Friesland, the northern province of the Netherlands. It is held only when the ice across the province is thick and safe enough, which is why it takes place irregularly rather than every year. The route also follows the canals and waterways between the cities, so the name is often used for the route itself as well as the race.

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