The largest collection of historical working windmills (windmolen) in the Netherlands can be seen for free at Kinderdijk near Dordrecht and Rotterdam in South Holland. The 19 windmills of Kinderdijk are inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list and are amongst the most popular tourist destinations in the Netherlands. Public transportation is available from Rotterdam, Dordrecht,and Utrecht but most visitors arrive on bus tours from Dutch cities.
Historical Windmills at Kinderdijk, South Holland
At Kinderdijk, 19 historical windmills have been restored to form a wonderful, idealistic panorama of historic rural Holland. However, in contrast to other open air museum areas, the windmills at Kinderdijk are the originals ones in their original positions.
The windmills at Kinderdijk were built during the eighteenth century to pump water from low-lying land back into the Lek River. Although wind powered, these windmills are also known as watermills after the function they had to perform. From the late nineteenth century, draining the polder was done via steam and later electric pumps but the windmills could still be operated in emergencies up to the Second World War. Presently, restoration work is underway to repair all windmills at Kinderdijk back to operational condition by 2010.
Admission to the windmill area at Kinderdijk is free – it is difficult to hide nineteen historical windmills behind fences. Visitors may walk or cycle on dedicated paths from where the windmills can be seen both closed up as well as lined up along the canals.
Visiting Historic Windmills at Kinderdijk in the Netherlands
Kinderdijk is freely accessible and can be visited at any time. However, to see the mills in action, it is best to visit on Saturdays in July and August when all mills are working if sufficient wind is blowing.
The windmills at Kinderdijk not only form a wonderful panorama but visitors can also see the working mechanisms as well as typical life inside one of these almost three-hundred years old windmills. The Bezoekmolen (Visitor’s Mill) is open daily from March to late October and this mill is generally turning on these days if wind is strong enough. The mill is also open on most weekends during the winter period.
It is possible to simply walk along the canal to see the windmills close up but bicycles may also be rented by the hour onsite for an easy cycle along the paths. Like most of Holland, the paths are pancake-like flat. From April to September, a small boat departs from the kiosk near the car parking lot on short pleasure cruises.
Kinderdijk is hugely popular with bus parties. Arriving early in the morning or late in the day is therefore highly recommended.
Transportation to the Windmills at Kinderdijk in South Holland
Although close to Dordrecht, Kinderdijk can easier be reached on public transportation from Rotterdam or Utrecht. Direct buses – Lijn 90 – run mostly hourly in 52 minutes from Rotterdam-Zuidplein to Kinderdijk (stop Molenkaade) and continue to Utrecht Central station, a further 90-minute bus ride. (Return trips use the same routing and numbering.)
Driving is generally the easiest way to reach Kinderdijk. Detailed maps showing car ferry services across rivers are advisable as Kinderdijk, despite being a very popular tourist sight, is reached via small back roads where bridges are often limited. A ferry service is available to bring cars and pedestrians from Krimpen aan den Lek over the river very close to Kinderdijk.
Kinderdijk is a popular day-trip destination from Rotterdam. Bus trips are organized from Rotterdam and many other places in the Netherlands. From April to early October, three-hour return boat excursions are available from Rotterdam to Kinderdijk.
The historical windmills at Kinderdijk are an ideal day trip from Rotterdam and other South Holland towns. Excursions to Kinderdijk are also available from Amsterdam but individual travelers may find it easier to travel to the historical windmills at Zaanse Schans, which are within very easy reach on public transportation from Amsterdam.
Henk Bekker - Henk Bekker is a freelance travel writer currently living on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
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