De Kat, Zaandam

De Kat is the only remaining working windmill in the world which produces paint. The mill is in the Zaanse Schans, Zaanstad. De Kat is an octagonal smock mill. Robbert Kempenaar has been the head miller of De Kat since 2007.

The original mill 'De Kat' was built in 1646 as an oil mill. In 1781 it was destroyed by fire but was rebuilt again by 1782. The mill was in use until 1904 and then was partially demolished.

In 1960 the eight-sided paint mill 'De Duinjager' was removed from its former position owing to urban development and placed on top of the old storehouse of 'De Kat'. The mill is again grinding raw materials including minerals and chalk to make pigments for paints in the traditional way. The mill is owned by the Vereniging De Zaansche Molen.

The mill, which is open to the public, receives 130,000 visitors annually, making it the most visited windmill in the Netherlands.

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