Nineteen mills at Kinderdijk pumped water from low polders to protect settlements from floods. The ensemble illustrates centuries of Dutch hydraulic innovation—sluices, pumping stations, and dikes. Conservation covers timber frames, thatch, sails, and mechanicals, while visitor routes and boats disperse crowds across a fragile wetland UNESCO site.
Built 1738–40, mills moved water from reclaimed land into higher canals, supplementing sluices and later steam, diesel, and electric stations.
Timber frames, brick bases, thatch cladding, and sailcloth demand periodic replacement. Bearings, gears, and pumps are maintained for demonstrations.
Boardwalks, paths, and boats limit trampling in wetlands; birdlife and reeds share the canals. Exhibitions explain dike safety and living below sea level.
Choose shoulder seasons; respect no‑drone and wildlife rules; combine with Rotterdam’s water history.
