Hi all! I’m traveling to Amsterdam next weekend. I’m planning a side-trip to the De Kralingse snuff mills. It looks like they’ll be open for tours on Saturday, since it’s the 2nd Saturday of the month. Has anyone else made the trip? Do you have any recommendations for other places to see on a 1 day trip to Rotterdam? And perhaps most importantly of all, @snuffmiller : Will you be at the mills on Saturday March 12th? I sure would like to talk about homemade snuff production if you’re available! 
I’m so excited. I haven’t tried the new snuffs, though A/P is one of my favorites. (edit for spelling)
Go to the coffeeshop called “the Green house” or “the grasshopper” Order “Super Lemon Haze or Amnesia Haze.” There’s my recommendation 
@puffpuff: I’ll be at the mills on the 12th from about 10 till 16 and hope to welcome you. For more information about what to do in Rotterdam see: http://www.rotterdam.info/ If you are interested in modern achitecture there are things to see because the city centre is not older than 60-70 years. Jaap Bes.
Sounds pretty exciting. Post a few good pics when you get back.
@puffpuff You lucky dog…you get to go to snuff Mecca and meet Mr. Jaap in person! I am very envious!!
@snuffmiller : That’s great news! Thanks for the link! I look forward to meeting you then! @transistor Have no fear. A visit to the Grasshopper is on the agenda. The trip to the mill won’t be until day 3 of 4. I’ve been to Amsterdam before, but never to Rotterdam. That said, I was hoping that my little thread doesn’t stray too far from tobacco. @Spyro & @FischTix: I’ll have my camera, and will post some pictures when I return!
Awesome man!! I can’t wait to see em!!
Look for white elephant and I’am not talking about the snuff. looks like dirty
@puffpuff: I was in Rotterdam some time ago. I remember Oude Haven was a good part of town to have a drink or two by the water and have some dinner. Jaap is right and most of old city did not survive the war, but the rebuilt city is very charming. There are some interesting buildings right there. Its been a long time and I was into different things in those days, but you will not have trouble finding a good time. Europoort might be too far, but they may offer tours of the world’s first automated shipping terminal.
A picture with Jaap in his jumpsuit on the upper level of the windmill would be a prized possession I would have to frame and hang over the woodburner. Take plenty of photos!!
@Bart: you have just given me a new quest for my life.
I know what you mean, Xander. I’ve played it over many times in my head. Sitting with Jaap in aged leather chairs in the upper levels of the mills with old stone crocks full of beer, sampling his snuffs, as an old dog sits at our feet…the only sounds are that of the wind and the wooden cogs as the old mill grinds dutifully away at it’s job. Then we would step out on the open deck and I’d show Jaap how long it takes for your spit to hit the ground below (and/or a tourist). Jaap would think a bit and then say, “You know, Bart,…we need someone with your sense of humor and quick wit around here. That’s why we’ve decided to present you with this” Opening a velvet lined bag he gives me, there is a brown jumpsuit with the name BART on it.
@Bart: I’m sure you could have a job there anytime, its volunteer work if I am not mistaken. You’d probably have to buy your own jumpsuit, but you could at probably get complimentary snuff. At least your jumpsuit is brown. Mine is blue and shows all the snuff I spill.
@Bart : Can you confirm you _won’t_ be at the Windmills on the 12th? I don’t want to arrive as you retire to the deck. LOL. @Xander : Thanks for the tip, that’s really what I was looking for. Someplace to get a late lunch and a drink before traveling back to Amsterdam. I’ll check it out.
@Bart: You painted a nice picture, but I could only offer you the following: The second Saterday of the month at 4 pm after a days work at the mill or guiding tourists, sitting together with us volunteers and enjoying an oude jenever, or kruidenbitter or even a plain bottle of Heineken or as an exeption a coke. It is however not on the topfloor or balcony, but groundfloor. @Xander: You are right as I said above we are all volunteers, but Bart should not only have to buy his khaki jumpsuit (khaki is the obligatory colour for voluntary millers) but also his snuff, because according to the Dutch tobaccolaw it is forbidden for manufacturers to give tobacco as a present! Jaap Bes.
as a present? What about as payment?
Thanks, Jaap. Well, it will still be nice to see more photos from Puff to get a real feel for the place. Not getting in your personal business, Jaap…but how’d you ever get involved with the mill?? Maybe you explained it somewhere else.
You’re free to not say. Though do be aware that I’ll assume it’s some kind of prison release thing.
@bob: The says nothing about payment, so sieving some kg’s of tobacco might do the trick! @Bart: A long story. As a wolf cub of about 6 or 7 I visited an oil wind mill, that might have been the initial push. Then, about 50 years nothing occurred. About 15 years ago I came in contact with voluntary millers and started the “course” for voluntary miller. It took about 3 years to pass the exams and then the question arose “What are you going to do with the certificate?”. Fortunately I got a place in group of corn millers were I also did a part of the training. Besides that I heard that a miller in Rotterdam could use some assistance. That was interesting for me because it was an industrial mill and my ancesters owened parts in an industrial windmill. When I got there it turned out to be the only two remaining snuff and spices mills in The Netherlands. Regretably production had stopped some decades ago. I took up the challence to reintroduce the old ways of snuff manufacturing and spices milling. So as you see I got involved quite accidentaly. Jaap Bes
@snuffmiller And what a happy accident that was!! Not only are you preserving a piece of history, but you produce some damn fine snuff!!!