Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout

The Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout is a well-preserved ensemble of historic windmills and associated water management works in South Holland, the Netherlands. The complex demonstrates traditional engineering used to regulate water levels in low-lying polders.

The site comprises 19 monumental windmills arranged along canals and dykes, constructed in the 18th century to pump water from the Alblasserwaard polder into the nearby rivers. The mills and their mechanisms are visible from footpaths and by boat, and several have been conserved and adapted as small museums showing the internal gearing and historic functions.

The windmills were built as part of ongoing polder reclamation and water control efforts in the Dutch Golden Age and later periods, replacing or supplementing earlier pumping methods. They remained in regular use until mechanical pumping technology reduced reliance on wind power, after which they were preserved for heritage and educational purposes.

Kinderdijk is situated at the junction of the Lek and Noord rivers in South Holland, east of Rotterdam and close to the town of Dordrecht, and is accessible by road and public transport from the Rotterdam area.

• Number of mills: Nineteen monumental windmills dating largely to the 18th century form the core of the site and illustrate traditional Dutch polder drainage technology.
• Viewing and visitor options: Best viewpoints include the canal-side footpaths and scheduled boat trips that show the row of mills from the water, with several mills open to visitors as small museums.

What to See #

• Kinderdijk windmill complex: A linear ensemble of 19 windmills built along canals and dykes to drain the Alblasserwaard polder, forming a coherent 18th century water management system.
• Alblasserwaard polder and waterworks: Surrounding polders, canals and sluices that together form the historic drainage system controlled by the mills and later mechanical pumps.