The Oranjemolen windmill is located on the dike on the east side of the centre of Vlissingen. The dike has been raised several times since the mill was built, and as a result it now sits in a depression in the earth. During the latest dike raising project in 2003, the mill was given a new foundation and boosted about 2.5 metres to just above the new dike level in order to keep it from ‘sinking’ even lower.
The mill’s position on the seawall above a vertical wall facing the southwest means that it bears the full brunt of wind and saltwater during south-westerly storms. The major challenge, in addition to building a new foundation, was to guarantee that the masonry was waterproof and the materials were resistant to salt. Since 2004 the mill, which thanks to adjustments and additions to the grinding mechanism can now operate at full power, is once again standing proudly on the dike and is now even more an integral part of the Vlissingen skyline.
