Open Monument Day – Eystrup Mill

Open Monument Day — Nationwide Event

The Open Monument Day takes place annually on the second Sunday in September and is one of Germany's largest cultural events, with over 7,500 participating monuments. Initiated by the German Foundation for Monument Protection, private and public monuments open their doors to the general public – often for the only time in the year. In 2026, the event day is on September 13th.

Eystrup Gallery-Holländer Windmill

The Eystrup Gallery-Holländer Windmill is one of the most impressive technical monuments in the Nienburg/Weser district. A Gallery-Holländer windmill with a surrounding gallery – from which the sails were formerly turned to the wind – represents an almost vanished technology. The mill was saved from decay by the Eystruper Mühlenfreunde e.V. and partially restored to working order.

Program for September 13, 2026

From 2 PM to 5 PM, the Mill Friends will offer guided tours of the mill. They will explain the milling technology (cap, sails, grinding mechanism, floor structure), the history of the mill in Eystrup, the restoration work of recent years, and the significance of windmill tradition for the County of Hoya. The tours are free of charge; donations for the mill's upkeep are welcome.

From the Grinding Mechanism to the Gallery

During the guided tours, the entire mill can be visited – from the ground floor with the old grinding mechanism, through the intermediate floors with sieves and sack mechanics, up to the top with the cap and sail mechanics. The surrounding gallery offers a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape and is the namesake feature of this type of mill.

Significance for the Region

Eystrup is one of the centers of mill culture in the County of Hoya. In addition to the Mill Day on Whit Monday (see separate festival page), Open Monument Day is the mill's second annual open day. Both occasions make important contributions to the preservation and communication of this technical heritage to the public.