Windmills at Kinderdijk, Holland

The Windmills at Kinderdijk are located in the province of South Holland, about 15 km east of Rotterdam. The site lies at the confluence of the Lek and Noord rivers in a low-lying polder landscape that has historically been prone to flooding. The windmills were constructed in the 18th century (around 1738–1740) as part of a sophisticated water management system designed to drain excess water from the polders and protect the land from inundation. Due to its outstanding demonstration of Dutch hydraulic engineering, Kinderdijk was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.

Main Attractions

The site is famous for its unique collection of 19 historic windmills, which form one of the most iconic landscapes in the Netherlands. These windmills were used to pump water from lower canals into higher reservoirs, working together as a coordinated system. Although modern pumping stations have largely replaced their original function, some of the windmills are still operational and maintained as part of the country’s water control heritage. The area also includes canals, dikes, sluices, and pumping stations that illustrate centuries of innovation in managing water in a below-sea-level environment.

Visitors can walk or cycle along the canals to view the windmills from different angles. Several of the windmills are open to the public as museums, allowing visitors to see how millers lived and worked inside these narrow structures. Boat tours are also available, offering a perspective from the water and explaining how the entire drainage system operates. The surrounding landscape provides excellent opportunities for photography, especially at sunrise and sunset when the windmills are reflected in the canals.

Visiting Kinderdijk

Kinderdijk is easily accessible from major Dutch cities. From Rotterdam, the most scenic option is the WaterShuttle boat from the Erasmus Bridge (Willemskade), which takes about 30 minutes; it sails daily from late March to late October and on Fridays to Sundays in winter, and a return ticket costs €19.50. The public Waterbus no longer stops at Kinderdijk. By car, the drive from Rotterdam takes about 30 minutes. From Amsterdam, take the train to Rotterdam (40–70 minutes) and continue by WaterShuttle.

Access to the Kinderdijk area itself is free, meaning visitors can walk along the dikes and view the windmills without charge. However, entry to the museum windmills, the Wisboom pumping station, the film and the tour boat requires a ticket, which costs €21 for adults and €9 for children aged 4–12 (10% less when bought online). A standard visit usually takes 2 to 3 hours, while those interested in cycling or exploring the full water management system may spend half a day at the site.