Mill guilds & associations
In the past, milling was often a solitary trade, with the required skills being passed on from master to apprentice. With a nod to the mediaeval tradition of guilds that oversee the practice of a craft or trade, the Dutch millers continue to be organised into various community associations. In addition to providing training, the guilds and associations are committed to the preservation of Dutch mills and in their associated crafts and traditions.
The Dutch Mill Society and its 5,000 members and beneficiaries have the broader aim of managing and safeguarding windmills and watermills in the Netherlands.
Guild of Volunteer Millers has almost 2,500 volunteer millers nationally, with chapters in each province
The Guild of Frisian Millers has around 300 members, 200 of whom are active volunteer millers
The Guild of Traditional Flourmillers has approximately 40 professional miller members
Banner image: De Duinen mill, Dordrecht, not dated, unknown photographer, Stichting Molendocumentatie Collection, 03941 a