Without visiting one of the famed windmills in the Netherlands, a trip there would be incomplete. Thankfully, the nation is home to hundreds of these enormous machines, and we’ve compiled a list of the top windmills to see while you’re there.
1. De Gooyer
This historical grain mill was among the highest structures in the Netherlands when it was constructed in the early sixteenth century. Its main body and sails are perched atop an old stone watermill with a rectangular shape.
The de Gooyer has shifted multiple times and is currently situated in the eastern docklands of Amsterdam, despite the fact that it has always been a part of the city. The windmill can be seen on the labels of the primary beers produced by the craft brewery Brouwerij ‘t Ij, which established its main facility in a bathhouse beneath de Gooyer in 1985.
2. Molen de Adriaan
A wealthy local businessman originally constructed Molen de Adriaan, a stunning windmill, in the 18th century, near Haarlem’s eastern canal belt. A storm that hit Haarlem in the 1930s sadly caused the de Adriaan to be nearly entirely destroyed.
The city of Haarlem made the decision to rebuild the windmill in the aftermath of this incident in order to restore the skyline to its former splendor. The former windmill has been converted into a museum, and it houses a number of exhibits that examine the long history of milling technology in the Netherlands.
3. The Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout
This complex network of windmills was built to pump water from Zuid-marshlands, Holland’s, and it assisted in the creation of a sizable, low-lying tract of land that essentially transformed the neighborhood into a rich hinterland.
The largest collection of historical windmills in the Netherlands may be found in this network, which was the site of 19 windmills constructed in the 18th century. A bus route that frequently runs between Rotterdam and Kinderdijk connects to the area, which is now a Unesco World Heritage Site.
4. Zaanse Schans
On the western side of Zaandam, a tiny, charming city just north of Amsterdam, sits Zaanse Schans, a historic area. Because of its remarkably well-preserved houses, bakeries, and windmills, this residential area resembles an outdoor museum.
The majority of the mills at Zaanse Schans were brought there during the 20th century after being originally situated elsewhere in the Netherlands. These vibrant machines are still in use and still create a variety of products, such as mustard, dye, and wood.
5. The Windmills of Schiedam
The little Dutch city of Schiedam gained notoriety for its jenever distilleries in the 18th century, and these businesses constructed twenty windmills inside the town’s walls to quickly grind grain for their factories. Because of the lack of wind in Schiedam, these machines were infamous for being extremely tall.
The Schiedam windmills are the tallest in the world, and now, five of their number are still standing. De Nieuwe Palmboom, a massive windmill that has been transformed into a museum, is a great place for tourists to learn about the history of these amazing constructions.
6. Molen de Valk
On the Molen de Valk’s foundations since the early 17th century, a windmill has stood, and its sails have come to symbolize Leiden’s skyline. Built in 1743 and in use for the majority of its existence is the current model. One of Leiden’s primary grain sources, this tall machine, was furnished with six mill stones.
In 1996, the interior of the mill underwent a transformation to become a local museum, which now houses a number of unique exhibits that describe the cultural significance of Molen de Valk.
