De Ster and De Lelie at the Kralingse Plas in Rotterdam-Kralingen are the only still operational snuff and spice mills. De Ster is originally from 1829 and has been rebuilt twice after a fire. De Lelie is from 1776 and still in its original state.
Originally, De Ster and De Lelie had a double function, making snuff tobacco and grinding spices.De Ster and De Lelie are still in operation every week for grinding spices.This is how we keep this old craft alive.
We are open on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. You are very welcome to take a look, also with a group, school class or company. more info
In our store you can buy spices ground on wind power, biscuits baked with our spices and nice gifts. more info
It is also possible to rent the meeting room at De Ster for a meeting, training or workshop. From the meeting room you have a beautiful view over the Kralingse Plas. The room is suitable for small groups of up to 10 people. more info
Scroll down for more information or check one of the other pages of our website.
Support us!
You can support us to operate De Ster en De Lelie by making a donation via international money transport on behalf of 'Stichting Molens aan de Kralingse Plas', The Netherlands. Our BIC code is RABONL2U, account number NL95RABO0133818284. Or use this link. De Stichting Molens aan de Kralingse Plas is recognised by the Dutch tax authorities as a Cultural ANBI.
News
23/05/2023 : Annual report 2022
It took some time, our annual report is now ready. Important in 2022 was the opening of the visitor center and the restoration of the thatched roof of De Ster. In addition, the 'ordinary' activities continued, such as receiving visitors and grinding and selling spices. And of course also the maintenance and keeping the mills clean and tidy. Our annual report can be viewed here on our website.
Snuff tobacco is made in a snuff mill. In De Ster and De Lelie, making snuff tobacco is combined with grinding spices, this is why De Ster and De Lelie are named snuff and spice mills.
Snuff tobacco is not smoked, but sniffed. Snuff tobacco is a very finely ground and dried tobacco that is enriched with herbs and aromas. Sniffing gives a fresh, tingling sensation in the nasal cavities. By using snuff tobacco, nicotine also enters the body.
Snuff tobacco production is a national heritage, in May 2015 is the craft of snuifreder is added to the Nationale Inventory of Immaterial Heritage. Unfortunately, as a result of the new EU regulation for tobacco, we stopped selling snuff at the end of 2016. Despite that, we can still show the production of snuff tobacco as a demonstration.
On behalf of the Kenniscentrum Immaterieel Erfgoed Nederland (KIEN) a film was made about making snuff like it was done on De Ster and De Lelie. The film provides an extensive insight into this very old production method. The film can be viewed on this link.
Spices
A spice mill is used to grind spices, herbs and mixed spices such as cinnamon, pepper and gingerbread spices.In De Ster and De Lelie, spices are still regularly mixed and ground as they used to do in the past.This happens only on wind power with the old tools in the mill.
In the mill, grinding is much quieter than in modern spice grinders.As a result, the spices do not heat up during grinding and retain their original aroma.
By regularly grinding spices, the mill and the tools remain in good condition and the knowledge about grinding spices under wind power is not lost.When you visit the mill you can see how the spices are ground and smell the wonderful smell of the ground spices.
Our spices are also for sale in various other mill shops.By buying the spices you support the operation of De Ster and De Lelie.
A visit to De Ster becomes even more interesting and educational if you get a tour from one of the millers or mill guides. During opening hours it is not always possible to give all visitors an extensive tour. You can therefore also make an appointment for a tour, for example as a family or company activity.
School classes are also welcome at De Ster. The children do different activities in groups and learn about our mill and also about mills in general.
De Ster is also a wonderful place to take photos on special occasions. Like for wedding photos or anniversaries and reunions.
De Ster and De Lelie are iconic on the edge of the Kralingse Plas. Not only the windmills are special, the buildings around the windmills are also historical and belonged to the windmill company around De Ster and De Lelie. The above aerial photo from the 1950s shows the buildings that still exist.
The Karottenfabriek can be seen on the far left, with De Lelie next to it. The karotten were made in the Karottenfabriek. Karotten are tobacco leaves moistened with a sauce and compressed into rolls. After a period of storage, the karots were processed into snuff in the mills.
The large house between De Ster and De Lelie is the former owner's house of the Hioolen family. De Ster can be seen on the right of the photo with the miller's house next to the mill.
Organisation
At the end of 2016 De Ster and De Lelie were handed over by the municipality of Rotterdam to Stadsherstel Historisch Rotterdam NV. The day-to-day business of the mills is in hand of the volunteers of Stichting Molens aan de Kralingse Plas. More about the foundation, the volunteers and our future plans can be found on this link.
Help us!We are looking for volunteers who, like us, want to make an effort for De Ster and De Lelie. You can help us in all sorts of ways, for example with giving guided tours to visitors, packing spices and promoting the mills and the products of the mills.
De Ster and De Lelie are in a beautiful setting and are full of historical techniques. We offer a nice atmosphere, coffee, tea and of course cake. Do you want to help us or do you know someone who would like to? Contact us and come along for a day to meet us and try if you like it.
Sailing at Rotterdam Sailing School de Lelie
The Sailing School is located in the karotten factory behind the De Lelie windmill. Thousands of carots were once stored there for the manufacturing of snuff tobacco.
Eat or drink at restaurant De Tuin
De Tuin is located in the villa that the Hioolen family had built in 1867. The Hioolen family has owned the entire mill complex for more than a century.
Mills at the lake
More activities around the Kralingse Plas
Miller's house
Stay in one of the two heritage accommodation studios in the miller's house
ANBI
Our foundation is recognised as a charity and your donation can raise tax benefits in The Netherlands
