Sawmill De Ster

The De Ster (the star) sawmill, in Utrecht’s Lombok district, is the last fully-intact mill of its kind. It is a unique industrial monument and an iconic Dutch symbol right in the heart of the city.

History
There used to be dozens of mills in and around Utrecht, including three sawmills along the Leidsche Vaart canal. At the time, they were located just outside the city in what, back then, were still open fields. This was a favourable location in terms of wind, and also provided good transport links for log trains and ships.

The De Ster sawmill was built in 1739 and was in use as a timber business for centuries. In 1991, wind power was replaced by electricity, and the windmill on the roof was demolished. When, in the 1980s, the sawing work permanently came to an end, new plans were made for the reconstruction of the mill.

More than ten years later, these plans came to fruition: in September 1998, the mill hull was put in place, and on 22 June 1999 the mill was officially opened.

Mill yard
The surrounding 18th-century mill yard has largely remained intact and, together with the mill, is regularly the site of events such as festivals, open-air film screenings and concerts. Check the calendar for an overview of all the upcoming events.

Sawing demonstrations and guided tours
Every Saturday you can take a look inside the mill free of charge. The doors are opened between 1 pm and 4 pm and you can take a guided tour. If the wind comes from the right direction, you can see how they used to saw here, and enthusiastic guides are keen to explain how the mill works and tell you more about the history of the Molenpark area.

On Saturdays, the Molencafé (Mill Café) is open too. On the sunny waterside terrace you can enjoy organic juices, local beers or a cold glass of wine.