Netherlands
Windmills of Kinderdijk
Welcome to the Netherlands! Kinderdijk is a village with 19 old windmills standing in a row, built long ago to pump water off the low, flat land.
Why is it special?
It has the largest group of old windmills anywhere in the Netherlands.
It shows how clever engineering helped people live safely on land that sits below sea level.
How does it work?
Much of the Netherlands is lower than the sea, so windmills were built to pump extra water away from the fields and canals.
The wind spins each mill's giant sails, which turn gears that lift water from the low land into higher canals.
Amazing facts
Most of the 19 windmills were built around 1738 and 1740 — that's almost 300 years ago!
It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 because it is so special.
Quick facts
- Most of the 19 windmills were built around 1738 and 1740 — that's almost 300 years ago!
- It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 because it is so special.
- About 600,000 visitors come to see the windmills every year.
- Some windmills were once family homes, with a whole family living inside!