Just about fifteen kilometers from Rotterdam, in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands, lies a marshy area (known as a polder in Dutch) surrounded by rivers. The Lek river is in the north and the Noord flows in the west. River Merwede is in the south and east is occupied by its canals. This marshy land is named Alblasserwaard. In Alblasserwaard, there is a place where the Lek and the Noord rivers meet. This place is better known as Kinderdijk...a village with nineteen medieval windmills... the largest concentration of old windmills in the Netherlands. And possibly, the most unique location in the world to witness the magic of the medieval windmills in action.
As most parts of Alblasserwaard are below sea level, it faced major water management crisis during the medieval era, as early as the thirteenth century. Large canals were dug to manage the excess water. Dykes were constructed. But, by the seventeenth century, it was realized that without any major intervention, the land would subside. The nineteen windmills were then constructed during the seventeenth century and the first half of the eighteenth century, to pump out the water into an reservoir, located at a higher basin. The water was then fed into the rivers at the higher reaches thus enabling an extensive irrigation system. Such was the efficiency of these windmills that the land survived and the windmills achieved almost cult status of national heroes. The concept of this interplay between nature and technology is so unique that these windmills of Kinderdijk are in the list of the UNESCO world heritage site list.
The Dutch have always lived in harmony with water. Huge areas of the country are below the sea level. It is believed that sixty percent of the Netherlands would have been under threat from the sea without their ingenious water management skills. Though the system is modernized now to fit into the needs and technology of the twenty first century, yet the nineteen heroes are still active - as a living manifestation of the age old struggle of the Dutch with the water.
The natural beauty is the region is so unique that you can easily spend a day enjoying the river breeze and walking by the windmills and the rivers. Also, sometimes, during the peak winter season, when the rivers freeze, this region turns into a skiing destination with snow clad windmills around. If you want to gather more information about the windmills, their history and even their names, do visit the two museums both housed within windmills - the Nederwaard and the Blokweer. The Blokweer windmill is the oldest windmill and was constructed almost hundred years before it's neighbors. Also don't miss the video at the entrance.
Accessibility to Kinderdijk is easy. From Rotterdam, it's an easy road ride. For us , considering the proximity from the Hague, we had taken a direct train to Dordrect from the Hague and from Dordrect, a bus ride of about 30 minutes to Kinderdijk. Water buses from Rotterdam and Dordrect are also easy means to reach Kinderdijk. And if you are a cycling enthusiast do try out the cycling trip to the Kinderdijk.
A video to get the feel of the place.
This post is for alphabet ‘K' of the #BlogchatterA2Z 2020 challenge:
K for Kinderdijk
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