Kinderdijk: Fun Facts about Windmills
Cruising thru the waterways of Holland, just a few hours by ship south of Amsterdam, lies Kinderdijk. With 19 of its original brick and wooden windmills in tact, this stop is sure to draw the curiosity of engineers, landscape artist, and photographers alike.
Here’s some fun facts about these marvels of 1700’s problem solving…
Windmills used to be incredibly prevalent in the Dutch landscape, and more than 10,000 were used for industrial purposes. Later, they gradually disappeared as other sources were preferred, such as steam, then eventually diesel, and electricity.
Windmills have many functions. They are true all-rounders. Many people believe windmills were only used to make flour out of grain. The windmills of Kinderdijk were water movers, pumping water out of controlled farmland and into the river nearby.
Did you know that the Dutch love the windmills so much, they dedicated a day in mid-May to celebrate it? They have a National Windmill Day. It's a time of the year when they decorate the windmills with flowers, figures of angels, or Dutch flags.
