The Pioneers

Frans Mars (1903-1973)

On February 26, 1925 oil mill De Zoeker (The Seeker) was heavily damaged by a tornado. The mill was reduced to a wreck and the question that arose was: restoration or demolition?

Frans Mars, a 21 year old citizen of Zaandam , noticed this dilemma with great concern and as nobody was taking any action it prompted him to write an open letter to the newspaper De Zaanlander in which he pleaded for restoration of the mill. That was the start, but he did more. He looked for supporters and consequently met Pieter Boorsma. A partnership between both men ultimately led to the foundation of a society for the preservation of windmills. On March 17, 1925 the society 'Vereniging De Zaansche Molen' was founded.

Frans Mars was also the driving force behind a windmill exhibition which took place that same year. On April 12, 1927 he was present at the laying of the foundation stone for the Mill Museum which some 13 months later was officially opened by H.R.H. Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands .

Throughout  the years Frans Mars lived and was involved with the trials and tribulations of 'his' society. He was its chairman, secretary and ultimately its honorary chairman. Many were privileged to benefit from his extensive geographical, historical and specific knowledge on preservation of the landscape.

Pieter Boorsma (1871-1951)

During his career as a professional mill builder Pieter Boorsma had been involved in the construction and fit out of several steam saw mills and a number of barley peeling plants. With the knowledge gained during his working life he wrote a number of magnificent books:

- Oud Zaansch Molenleven I (1927/1932),
- Oud Zaansch Molenleven II (1948),
- Over Zaansche Windmolens (1939),
- De Molens van de Familie Honig (1939) (The mills of the Honig family),
- De Molens te Assendelft (1942)
- and his standard work dating from 1950: Duizend Zaanse Molens 
  (A thousand Zaan Windmills).

In addition between the years 1946 and 1951 he wrote many interesting and colourful stories for the local magazine De Zaende. Subsequently a weekly called De Zaanlander, which later became a daily paper, continued to publish his works for many years.

In the mid twenties he was approached by Frans Mars. By writing to the only Zaan newspaper of those days Boorsma had attempted to dispel the myth promoted by the industrialists that 'wind power was not free'. He argued strongly that it was better and cheaper and better to continue working the windmills than to switch to expensive factories with their coal-gorging steam engines.
Because Boorsma had clearly demonstrated his expertise on the subject of windmills, Frans Mars concluded that he was the ideal person he was looking for to support his windmill society. After a cordial meeting and conversation Boorsma agreed to assist Mars. This opportune meeting meant the start of a solid friendship between both men from which the society ‘De Zaansche Molen’ derived great benefit over many years. Boorsma proved an ideal secretary, a perfect curator for the Mill Museum and in all respects an expert on the subject of windmills.