WOOD SAW MILLER
The invention of the wood sawmill in 1592 had a revolutionary impact in the Netherlands and played a crucial role in their global dominance in the 17th century.
Before, it took several days to saw a tree into planks, as this was only possible by hand. With the help of the new saw frames, driven by a ‘crankshaft’, a tree trunk could be cut into planks within a few hours and with extreme precision. A mill could thus replace the labor of at least 100 men.
A few years later, the V.O.C. was founded. Due to the monopoly the Netherlands had on the crank, they were the only ones who could saw wood using a windmill. As a result, within a few years they had the largest fleet in the world and became the most powerful country in the world.
More than four hundred years later, the craft of the wood sawmill is still practiced in the Netherlands. The vast amount of knowledge, skill and ability possessed by these craftsmen has been shaped and refined over many generations. Knowledge that is still essential to today’s society.
“A miller recognizes every squeak and creak on the mill. When something threatens to go wrong, I hear it immediately. In a world mainly focused on technological innovation, it is important to maintain fundamental knowledge and skills. Otherwise, the whole system will collapse,” says 88-year-old miller Jan Coppens.
The Netherlands currently has a huge shortage of skilled workers. We should not forget that our society is largely ‘handmade’ and we desperately need the future builders of our society.