kinderdijk

We had breakfast and were ready for our 8.30am tour of Kinderdijk.

Kinderdijk is a UNESCO site with 19 windmills. We learned how the mills draw water from the reclaimed land (polder)...goes in to canals and eventually makes its way to the Rhine River. 1.5 million litres of water is pumped per minute when the pump is in operation. The canals were dug by hand in the 1400’s and they are 3 meters deep.

It’s a fascinating process. Apparently they are starting to use it in New Orleans (the modern system).

Families of 15-16 people would live in the windmills. They are not spacious inside so it would have been cozy. Today young couples (no children allowed) live in the mills and operate them on the weekends. They must be certified millers (3-4 years education) to operate them.

The rest of the day we sail. A beautiful day on the deck. We saw a campground, lots of farms, church steeples, cows, horses and people sunbathing along the river. Some without clothing. Very European!