Jan Adriaansz Leeghwater

Born in De Rijp in November 1575, he worked as a Dutch millwright and hydraulic engineer at a time when wind power and water management were transforming the Netherlands. He later became known as Leeghwater, a name often associated with "low water," though sources note that the history of the name is not entirely clear.

He is closely associated with major land-reclamation projects in North Holland, especially the Beemster, and with the wider tradition of draining lakes and controlling flood-prone land. Dutch historical sources also remember him as an innovative windmill builder.

Leeghwater died in Amsterdam in January 1650. Even centuries later, he remains one of the best-known early Dutch figures in hydraulic engineering, remembered for practical skill, bold planning, and the enormous influence of waterworks on everyday life in the Netherlands.