Netherlands

The Netherlands is a country with a long and rich history, and this is reflected in the many beautiful and interesting windmills that can be found here. These windmills have been a part of the Dutch landscape for centuries, and are a symbol of the country’s rich history and culture. Today, there are over 1,000 windmills in Netherlands, making it one of the most windmill-rich countries in the world. Visitors can tour the windmills, learn about their history, and see how they are used to generate electricity.

Read on, for some arm-chair traveling with Neerja, who traveled to this stunning part of the world. After viewing her pictures of these stunning windmills in The Netherland, I actually wouldn’t mind staying at one of these windmills for a short while!

I recently visited one of the most magical places in The Netherlands called Kinderdijk. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site in South Holland. It is home to nineteen iconic windmills situated on a calm riverbank and surrounded by stunning grasslands.

Netherlands is mostly under sea level and the country receives a lot of rainfall and hence the struggle with water has led them to build The Delta Works that protect the country from flooding.

These windmills which were built around the 1740s hence play a crucial role in keeping the soil dry here for nearly a thousand years now. They use the power of the wind along the pumping stations to move water from the lower lying areas to the higher ground and into the river. This has even made agriculture and raising animals possible at Kinderdijk.

This picturesque village is inhabited by 60 residents at the moment who live within the windmills preserving this unique region. When you enter this beautiful village it transports you back into the medieval ages. I opted for a cruiser boat tour to watch the windmills slowly drift by.

I have seen many pictures of the windmills but I never knew what the story behind them was. Two windmills, Nederwaard and Blokweer dating from 1630 and 1738 serve here as museums which have ladders for you to climb all the way up and have a look at how people live inside and maneuver the sails in the wind.

The staff are dressed up as millers and are wearing wooden clogs. There are a few extra clogs which can be tried on. I also gained an appreciation for these delicate structures and understood what life was like for one of the families living inside.

You can find historic photos and household items used by the Hoek family for several generations. I could watch the history of Kinderdijk at the visitor center through a video screening which explained about one of the most infamous floods called the Saint Elizabeth’s floods that ruined some of these systems in 1421. The floods drastically changed the shape of the Netherlands into what it is today.

It’s said that Kinderdijk (Children’s dike) is named after one of the children who was found after the flood in the area. Visiting this place is definitely worth for the picture perfect tranquil scenery, historic windmills and a unique opportunity to learn about the Netherlands’ old fight against rising waters.

I came back with some gorgeous pictures of this Dutch Landscape which is truly one of its kind.

Neerja is a language trainer and an avid reader who loves travelling. She likes to travel slow, soaking up everything a destination has to offer looking beyond those tourist traps. Originally from Coorg, she currently resides in Kochi with her husband and her son. 

Would you like to read about Amsterdam City ? Go ahead and click here 🙂