Why Visit Windmills in Holland at Kinderdijk

Holland is renowned for its wooden shoes, tulips and windmills. But do you know why windmills are such a big deal there? Much of the Netherlands, the region of Holland in particular, is located below sea level. Given the its position along the North Sea and with three major rivers crossing the country, this means about 20 percent of the Netherlands is at high risk for flooding. The solution? An intricate system of dykes and dams plus windmills to pump water away and keep the land livable. You can visit 19 of these poetic-looking windmills in Holland at Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Windmills in Holland

If you want to get your old school Dutch windmill fix, Kinderdijk is the place to be. A few hours is plenty to explore this historic collection of traditional windmills, and that's just what my husband and I got during our half-day visit to this low-lying village with Viking River Cruises. Built in the 1700s, some of the windmills are still inhabited and in-use today.

Kinderdijk UNESCO World Heritage Site in Holland, the Netherlands (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

What to expect at Kinderdijk

Two of the Kinderdijk windmills house museums, where you can catch a glimpse of what life was like when traditional windmills were the main source of flood protection. It is fascinating to see and hear the cacophonous windmill gears spinning up close. Although the windmills may look romantic, they often proved dangerous, with the huge, heavy windmill blades sometimes taking the lives of the owners' children, spouses and the millers themselves. Be sure to stay away from cordoned off areas for safety's sake.

Windmills look lovely but can prove to be dangerous as well (Photo credit: Travel Mamas)

You can wander along the river's shore and snap photos of the windmills. For a longer visit, rent bicycles to explore the heritage site and surrounding picturesque landscape. Boat tours along the Lek River are also available. Be sure to stop in to the onsite gift shop to pick up some traditional and affordable Dutch souvenirs.

A peek inside the living quarters of a traditional Dutch windmill (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

Flood management today in the Netherlands

Although technological advances have made the use of windmills for flood management unnecessary, there are still over 900 traditional windmills in the Netherlands today. Some of these were used for industry like grain grinding, rather than water displacement. Reinforced locks and levees, a massive pumping station, as well as two giant gates taller than the Empire State Building protect the country's populace from severe flooding in this time of worldwide rising water levels. Modern day wind turbines are being added to the country's landscape now as a source of energy, instead of as protection from flooding.

Wooden shoes on display at Kinderdijk World Heritage Site (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

Why visit windmills in Holland

There is a saying, “God created the Earth, but the Dutch created the Netherlands.” Before my visit, I knew that windmills were synonymous with Holland, but I really didn't understand why. The Dutch inventiveness and resolve is nowhere more clear than at Kinderdijk, where you see firsthand how this populace looked at the seemingly insurmountable task of living with the constant threat of floods that ruined homes, farms and businesses, and spread disease. The Dutch didn't sit around and complain, they put on their wooden shoes and got to work creating a solution. By diverting water, they have created more livable land for their countrymen. Exploring the windmills at Kinderdijk brings the history and steadfastness of the Netherlands to life.

Have you ever visited windmills in Holland? Is this on your bucket list? Let us know in the comments below!

A Note from The Travel Mama: Our cruise was hosted by Viking River Cruises. All opinions are mine, as always.