What is the difference between German and Dutch mills?
There are a few differences. Really, a mill and its style are based on its builders preferences and background. The Dutch developed the smock mill as we know it, but it Germans modernized the style. German mills are usually wider at the base to accommodate more machinery, have shingled exteriors (as opposed to the Dutch, who used thatch), and more often have tail fans to rotate the cap rather than a winch. Other minor differences may include the way in which the floor joists are cut and mortised into the cant posts. The styles are all generally similar, especially since the countries neighbor one another.
