Esther keeps an ancient craft alive as a miller in training
Her father is a miller, so it’s hardly surprising that Esther van der Ent is also fascinated by windmills. Alongside her work at the Centre for Environmental Sciences (CML) and the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus alliance, Esther is now training to become a miller herself. ‘This craft mustn’t be lost,’ she says.
Being outdoors in nature, breathing in the scent of wood and oil, feeling the wind rush through her hair, surrounded by the creaks and groans of a centuries-old mill: Esther is happiest when she’s near a windmill.
As a child, she often joined her father, who worked at the famous 'Kinderdijk' mills, and who still spends a lot of time there today.‘My father turned his hobby into his job,’ Esther says. These days, he’s also the regular miller at 'De Middelmolen' in Molenaarsgraaf, a centuries-old polder mill, built to pump water and keep the Dutch polders dry. ‘A while ago, he asked if I’d consider doing the training, to help keep the craft alive. At Kinderdijk, he sees generations of millers working together, and that’s his wish for me too.’
After work
In the After Work series, we meet colleagues who have special passions besides their work. What inspires them, and how do they bring that enthusiasm to their work?
Tough training
Esther didn’t need much convincing. She’s eager to share her passion for history and windmills with others. So, alongside her full-time job as project coordinator at CML and programme manager at LDE Thesis Labs, she’s taking the two-year miller’s training. ‘It can be quite tough at times,’ she admits. ‘I spend one day each weekend at the mill and have to learn a lot of theory about how the mill works and all its parts. Once a month there’s also an evening theory class.’
‘I hope I can do my part to help preserve this old craft. The trade of the miller should never be lost.’
Experiencing all seasons at the mill
As with most traditional crafts, the skills are passed down through practice and Esther is being trained by her father. ‘For two years I work at different mills. You need to experience every season so you can safely operate the mill in all weather conditions. I’ve completed my first year now, and I hope to take my practical exam next June and receive my diploma in October.’
Esther also sees a clear link between her training and her work, especially when it comes to caring for and connecting with nature. She helps link students with organisations that tackle complex sustainability challenges together. ‘It’s similar to the principle behind windmills; both are about how we interact with our land and the future of nature. Windmills are incredibly sustainable; they kept our polders dry in the past and made agriculture possible. Sadly, many mills disappeared between 1900 and 1960. I hope I can do my part to help preserve this old craft. The trade of the miller should never be lost.’
Open for visitors
Trained as a biologist, Esther once worked as a marine biologist at Naturalis, travelling the world to study coral reefs. But she now finds deeper meaning and satisfaction in combining her scientific work with her miller’s training. ‘When I’m at the mill, I completely unwind — it makes me truly happy.’
She hopes her story will inspire others too. ‘Anyone’s welcome to get in touch. I love talking about the history of the mill and its surroundings. My father keeps a guestbook where he collects signatures from visitors of all nationalities — so everyone’s welcome to come for a tour.’
Do you also have a special passion outside of work? Send an email to news@science.leidenuniv.nl and who knows, you might get to talk about your hobby in the next episode!