The mills of the Nederwaard
The eight mills of the Nederwaard were built in 1738. These circular, brick mills lift water from the lower-lying boezem to the high boezem of the Nederwaard. Initially, when the rivers were low in water, the water was discharged from the high boezem into the Lek River by means of a sluice. The mills are roughly similar to each other, but with minor differences because they were built by different contractors. The length of the vanes (the sweep), for instance, varies from 27.5 metres to 28 metres. 

The waterwheels of the mills, housed in the body of the mill, lift water approximately 1.4 metres higher. The millers and their families lived in the mills. The function of these mills was partially taken over by the steam-driven Van Haaften pumping station in 1869. This pumping station no longer exists today.

The mills of the Overwaard
The eight mills of the Overwaard were built in 1740. These mills differ from those of the Nederwaard in that they are octagonal and have thatched roofs. The mills lifted the water from the lower-lying boezem to the high boezem of the Overwaard at the upper end of the row of mills. Initially, the water was discharged from the high boezem into the Lek River by means of a sluice. The mills have a sweep of 28.6 metres to 29.5 metres. They are fitted with an internal waterwheel measuring 6.70 metres in diameter. Each mill lifts water to approximately 1.4 metres higher. The function of these mills was taken over in 1869 by the steam-driven Wisboom pumping station, which no longer exists today.