Alblasserwaard

Alblasserwaard is a low-lying polder region in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands, shaped by centuries of Dutch water-management. It is characterised by dikes, canals and reclaimed agricultural land.

The region is best known for the historic windmills at Kinderdijk, where 19 windmills built to drain the polder remain as the iconic example of traditional Dutch engineering. The polder landscape also includes extensive cycling routes, waterways and small rivers that illustrate the Netherlands’ water-control heritage.

The Alblasserwaard developed through peat excavation and deliberate drainage over several centuries, with windmills and later pumping stations used to keep the reclaimed land dry. The landscape seen today is the result of ongoing water management and agricultural use.

Located in central South Holland, the Alblasserwaard lies northeast of Rotterdam and is accessible from nearby towns and cities by road and bicycle paths. The Kinderdijk windmills are on the eastern side and are a major visitor attraction for the region.

• Kinderdijk windmills: The eastern edge of the Alblasserwaard hosts the Kinderdijk windmills, a cluster of 19 well-preserved windmills that illustrate historic Dutch water management.

What to See #

• Kinderdijk windmills: A concentration of 19 historic windmills used historically for polder drainage; many of the mills at Kinderdijk date from the 18th century and are preserved as the best-known feature of the polder landscape.