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Windmills · Roterdã, Holanda Meridional
Kinderdijk
Nineteen 18th-century windmills lined up along canals that drained the polders of the Alblasserwaard. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997, about a half-hour by boat from Roterdã.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Kinderdijk
Kinderdijk is a village about 15 kilometres east of Roterdã, where the rivers Lek and Noord meet. There, 19 windmills line the canals and reservoirs. They were built to pump water out of the Alblasserwaard, a polder plain lower than the surrounding rivers. Most of the existing mills date from 1738 and 1740.
The system worked in stages: the mills pumped water from the polder into higher reservoirs, and from there it flowed to the river when levels allowed. Today the heavy lifting is done by pumping stations, but some mills still turn and are inhabited by millers. It is the largest concentration of historic mills in the Netherlands, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997.
The name means children's dyke. According to legend, in the great flood of 1421 a cradle with a baby and a cat floated to the dyke, saved by the cat that balanced the cradle.
The paths between the mills are walked or cycled. The ticket grants access inside the museum mills, to a pumping station with an exhibition and to the visitor centre; the boat tour along the canals is usually charged separately. The word molen, which appears on all the signs, means mill.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
2 to 3 hours on site, plus the time for the boat or bus.
Best time
From April to October, with more boat departures in summer. Arrive early, right at opening, to see the mills with fewer people. Whether the mills are turning depends on the wind and the day: they usually turn on some days of the week during the season.
How to get there
By boat: the Waterbus departs from the quay next to the Erasmusbrug in central Roterdã. In the summer season there’s a direct line; outside it you may need to change boats in Ridderkerk. The trip takes 30 to 40 minutes; check the line and schedules before you go. By bus, there are routes from Zuidplein metro; by car it’s about 20 km.
Tip
Buy the ticket online. Bring a windbreaker: the area is open and very windy. If you have time, rent a bike in the village and ride along the two canals to the end, where almost no one goes.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Kinderdijk
How to get from Roterdã to Kinderdijk?
The most common way is the Waterbus, which departs from the Erasmusbrug quay. In the summer season there is a direct line; in other months you may have to change boats en route. There are also buses from the Zuidplein metro.
Do the windmills actually work?
Some still turn and are inhabited by millers, but today drainage is handled by pumping stations. The mills typically turn on some days of the season, depending on the wind.
Can you go inside the mills?
Yes, the ticket grants access to museum mills, which show the miller's house and the internal mechanism.
How much time to allow for Kinderdijk?
A whole morning or afternoon, including the boat trip to and from Roterdã.