Editing Simon Stevin (section)

=== Management of waterways ===
Stevin's work in the ''waterstaet'' involved improvements to the [[sluice]]s and [[spillway]]s to control [[flood]]ing, exercises in [[hydraulic engineering]]. [[Windmill]]s were already in use to pump the water out but in ''Van de Molens'' (''On mills''), he suggested improvements including ideas that the wheels should move slowly with a better system for meshing of the [[gear teeth]]. These improved threefold the efficiency of the windmills used in pumping water out of the [[polder]]s.<ref>The Story of Science: Power, Proof & Passion – EP4: Can We Have Unlimited Power?</ref> He received a [[patent]] on his innovation in 1586.<ref name=isis/>