Kinderdijk - Windmill Village

Kinderdijk is a small village at a distance of 16 kilometres from Rotterdam. It is known for its 19 windmills dating from 1500s. The mills drain the excess water from the Alblasserwaard polders - which are situated below sea level - after that the water goes to the river Lek.
   The powerful mill sails serve to transmit the force of the wind on the large paddlewheels which scoop up the water. Nowadays power-driven pumping engines do the job, including one of the largest water screw pumping-station in Europe.
   One of the windmills is open for visitors dring the tourist season, and at the most of the days it is operational. While visiting the windmill, anyone can get a pretty good idea about the functioning of the windmill and the lifestyle back than.
   During the second week of september the Kinderdijk windmills are lighted atnight, which is called 'mills in floodlight'. This attracts many visitors from all over the world and it is recommended to see it.
   From 1992 the windills of Kinderdijk are protected by UNESCO.