About Skjern Vindmølle

In 1872, the windmill was built in Albæk, south-east of Skjern. The windmill is a Dutch mill, which is characterized by the fact that only the mill cap with the blades can be turned according to the wind, unlike the older stump mill, where the entire building had to be turned. When the railroad came to Skjern in 1875, it attracted so many new people that miller P.C. Jensen decided to move his mill in 1882. Jensen decided in 1882 to move his mill to the new town. He built the mill opposite the new railway station, and from then on Skjern developed around the railway and what was now Skjern Vindmølle.

Initially, there was a ban on building tall buildings around the mill, which needed the wind. However, it was only in the first few years in Skjern that wind power was used exclusively. Already in 1884, the new miller, Jens Petersen, P.C. Jensen's son, installed a steam engine, and in 1913 Skjern Vindmølle got a diesel engine.

The ban on building tall buildings could not be enforced forever. Eventually, the windmill had trouble getting enough wind. It took a war to keep Skjern Vindmølle from dying out. The First World War's shortage of kerosene and diesel also affected neutral Denmark. Therefore, the mill was moved to the deserted Marup, where there was more wind. Skjern Vindmølle could now power Skjern Elværk and supply the town with energy. Skjern Vindmølle still stands on Marupvej.

In 1924, Johannes Lund took over the windmill. He quickly built up a good business grinding animal feed. His chicken mix was particularly popular. Johannes Lund died in 1965 and his son, Erik Lund, took over as miller. However, time had run out for the Dutch mill, which, after restoration and remodeling of the exhibition rooms, opened as a museum in 1991.