en_US
en_US nl_NL
  • Things to do Netherlands

Tips for visiting the windmills at Kinderdijk

Picture of Lois Weeterings

Lois Weeterings

Content

Visiting the windmills at Kinderdijk is a hearty and interesting outing in The Netherlands. The village called Kinderdijk is beautifully located in the Alblasserwaard. A destination where tourists, from every corner of the world, travel to admire the typical Dutch windmills. As such, Kinderdijk is one of the most unique attractions in the Netherlands. You can take a boat tour and bike ride, but walking along the windmills of Kinderdijk is also highly recommended. The windmills are not on UNESCO's World Heritage List for nothing. Getting the most out of your visit to the windmills at Kinderdijk? Then quickly read our valuable and informative tips!

Blokweer mill
View of the windmills of Kinderdijk

Kinderdijk: a unique piece of the Netherlands

Since 1997, the 19 windmills of Kinderdijk have been on UNESCO's World Heritage List, and that's no mean feat. The mill complex you'll find here couldn't be more typically Dutch. For centuries, many regions of the Netherlands have been below sea level and therefore at risk of one day being flooded. The mill complex as you find it in Kinderdijk has created a very special system which ensures that this region stays dry. This location is a very beautiful, but therefore also very important place in the Netherlands.

Visit the 19 mills at Kinderdijk

A total of four different groups of windmills can be found in Kinderdijk, each with its own display and function. You will find the windmills divided into two rows of eight, on the Nederwaard and on the Overwaard. There is also an impressive seesaw mill and further into the polder you will find two more unique octagonal mills.

The mills of the Overwaard

The eight mills of the Overwaard are recognizable by the octagonal booms that are thatched and have dominated the landscape of Kinderdijk since 1740. The function of these mills is to grind the water from the Low to the High Boezem with a scoop wheel. This is done via a water wheel located inside the mill.

The mills of the Nederwaard

The eight round stone mills of the Nederwaard with thatched roofs have the function of grinding water to the High Boezem. A family with up to thirteen children used to live in one of these stone mills. Should you be interested in the life of the past, you can Museum mill Nederwaard visit and get a glimpse of old Dutch life.

The mill of polder Blokweer

The somewhat secluded mill of Polder Blokweer is a museum where you can witness how the scoop wheel grinds the water up a meter to the Boezem. The special thing about this mill is that it stands on a masonry base.

The mills of polder Lekkerland

Where there used to be three windmills at Polder Lekkerland Mills, you will now find two. Here an auger, a kind of screw, is used to pump the water directly 2.5 meters up to the river. 

Mills of the Lower Worth
Mills of the Lower Worth
Mill overwaard
Overwaard Mill

What does a visit to Kinderdijk cost?

Kinderdijk is open to the public all year round. So you can walk along the mills on your own, but do you want to visit the museum mills and the Wisgemaal? Then you must have a ticket to do so. These tickets cost €19,- p.p. for adults and €8,- p.p. for children from 4 to 12 years old. You can buy a ticket online at Kinderdijk's website or on site at the information center at Kinderdijk. Nice to know is that with your entrance ticket you can also board the tour boat. In addition, you have access to various audio tours in the app. 

Is it worth buying a ticket to the museum windmills of Kinderdijk?

Yes, definitely. We can be short or long about it, but we definitely recommend buying a ticket to visit Kinderdijk. Not only will you learn more about the various windmills at Kinderdijk, but you'll also contribute to the preservation of this crazy piece of Dutch heritage.

The route to Kinderdijk

This typical piece of the Netherlands should be visited by every Dutch person at least once in his or her life. The Kinderdijk mill complex is unique and we Dutch should be very proud of it. If you come from far away, then it is likely that you travel by car. Ideal, because then you park 100 meters from the first windmill. Parking at the windmills costs €8.50. 

If you come from the Kinderdijk area, there are two more options besides the car to get here: by ferry and by bike. Explore Kinderdijk on foot or by bike, but it is also possible to take a tour boat along the windmills. You can book these tours at the arrival point. 

Taking the ferry to Kinderdijk

Kinderdijk has an ideal water connection to Krimpen aan de Lek, Ridderkerk and Rotterdam. Many tourists who stay in Rotterdam for a city break catch the Erasmus Bridge the water bus to Kinderdijk. This has been a direct connection since 2022. Another option is to take the water bus to Ridderkerk (Veer de Schans). Here you transfer to the triangle ferry to Kinderdijk.

Alternatively, you can park your car at the Ridderkerk ferry port and then take the triangle ferry to Kinderdijk. This is a small boat that sails a triangle between Ridderkerk, Kinderdijk and Krimpen aan de Lek. A ride on the triangle ferry costs €1.80 per person. 

Another option is to catch the ferry that sails back and forth between Krimpen aan de Lek and Kinderdijk. You can enter this ferry as a pedestrian and cyclist, as well as a motorcyclist and car driver. A ride on this ferry costs €0.80 per person for a cyclist. Check the other rates at this website.

What is the best time to visit Kinderdijk?

Kinderdijk is a very popular place among tourists. As a result, this unique place in the Netherlands is crowded during the high season. Therefore, the best time to admire the windmills of Kinderdijk is in the early morning or later in the day. However, it is also a lot quieter during the months of November through March. 

Share this post:

Picture of Lois Weeterings

Lois Weeterings

A dreamer and adventure seeker, always on the lookout for new experiences. But also a hard worker with a thousand ideas racing through my mind. As a personal travel consultant and travel blogger, I share my passion for faraway destinations, thrilling adventures, and winter sports. With deep knowledge of places like Namibia, Colombia, the ABC Islands, and the Middle East, I’m here to help you craft a trip you’ll never forget. Through my personal stories and expert tips, I aim to inspire you to explore the world your way. Always with my camera in hand, I’m determined to capture every magical moment and share it with you.

Popular in Things to do Netherlands

Latest blogs

Also read

More Things to do Netherlands? Be inspired!