UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
---|---|
Location | Molenlanden, Alblasserdam, South Holland, Netherlands |
Criteria | Cultural: (i), (ii), (iv) |
Reference | 818 |
Inscription | 1997 (21st Session) |
Area | 322 ha (800 acres) |
Website | kinderdijk |
Coordinates | 51°52′57″N4°38′58″E / 51.88250°N 4.64944°E |
The Kinderdijk windmills are a group of 19 monumental windmills in the Alblasserwaard polder, in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. Most of the mills are part of the village of Kinderdijk in the municipality of Molenlanden, and one mill, De Blokker, is part of the municipality of Alblasserdam. Built in 1738 and 1740, to keep water out of the polder, it is the largest concentration of old windmills in the Netherlands and one of the best-known Dutch tourist sites. The mills are listed as national monuments and the entire area is a protected village view since 1993. They have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, and as such are officially named as the Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout.
Kinderdijk lies in the Alblasserwaard, at the confluence of the Lek and Noord rivers. In Alblasserwaard, problems with water became more and more apparent in the 13th century. Large canals, called "weteringen", were dug to get rid of the excess water in the polders. However, the drained soil started setting, while the level of the river rose due to the river's sand deposits. Most of the current mills were built in 1738 and 1740 (see below).
After a few centuries, an additional way to keep the polders dry was required. It was decided to build a series of windmills, with a limited capacity to bridge water level differences, but just able to pump water into a reservoir at an intermediate level between the soil in the polder and the river; the reservoir could be let out into the river through locks whenever the river level was low enough; the river level has both seasonal and tidal variations. Although some of the windmills are still used, the main water works are provided by two diesel pumping stations near one of the entrances of the windmills site.
The 19 stone mills of the Netherlands were built in 1738, the wooden mills of the Overwaard in 1740. The former move the drainage water from the lower polders of the Alblasserwaard into a reservoir, the latter that from the higher polders. Both reservoirs used to drain in turn into the river Lek by means of locks during low river water levels; nowadays modern pumping stations are in place.
This is a list of the 19 mills: [1] [2]
The mills are listed as national monuments and the entire area is a protected village view since 1993. The mills were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the 21st session of the World Heritage Committee in 1997. The mills are property of the Kinderdijk World Heritage Foundation.
Alblasserdam is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. It covers an area of 10.06 km2 (3.88 sq mi), of which 1.28 km2 (0.49 sq mi) is water, and has a population of 20,136 as of 2021. Alblasserdam is officially a part of the Drechtsteden region. A portion of the small village of Kinderdijk, which boasts the largest and most famous concentration of windmills in the Netherlands, is part of Alblasserdam.
Nieuw-Lekkerland is a town in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. It is situated on the southern shores of the Lek River, in the north-west of the Alblasserwaard.
Kinderdijk is a village in the municipality of Molenlanden, in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. It is located about 15 km east of Rotterdam.
The Alblasserwaard is a polder in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. It is mainly known for the windmills of Kinderdijk, located near the village of Kinderdijk in the polder's northwestern part.
Jantina Hellingmolen is a smock mill in Aalden, Netherlands. The mill is listed as a Rijksmonument, number 41518.
De Vlijt or Molen 't Op is a post mill in Koudum, Friesland, Netherlands which was built in 1986 and is working in working order. The mill is listed as a Rijksmonument, number 34081.
De Sweachmermolen is a smock mill between Langweer and Boornzwaag, Friesland, Netherlands which was built in 1782. The mill has two functions: it is a drainage mill and a corn mill. It has been restored to working order as a drainage mill and is listed as a Rijksmonument, number 13241.
De Kleilânsmole was a smock mill which formerly stood in Marrum, Friesland, Netherlands and which was built in 1865 and dismantled in 2010. The mill had been restored as a landmark. The mill was listed as a Rijksmonument, number 15597.
De Marsummermolen English: The mill of Marssum is a smock mill in Marsum, Friesland, Netherlands which was built in 1903. The mill has been restored to working order and is used as a training mill. It is listed as a Rijksmonument, number 28624.
The Terpensmole is a drainage mill in IJlst, Friesland, Netherlands. It was moved from its earlier location in Sneek in 2011 where it was known as the Himmole. The mill is listed as a Rijksmonument, number 22914. It is fully functional and can be used to help drain the adjacent polder.
Terpzigt is a drainage mill in Marssum, Friesland, Netherlands. It is the smallest spinnenkop, a type of hollow post windmill. The mill is listed as a Rijksmonument, number 8625.
The spinnenkop of the Netherlands Open Air Museum in Arnhem is a small drainage mill originally located near Gorredijk, Friesland, Netherlands. It is a hollow post windmill that has been restored to working order.
Molenwaard is a former municipality in the western Netherlands, in the southeastern part of the province of South Holland, and the northwestern part of the region of Alblasserwaard. It was the result of a merger of the municipalities of Graafstroom, Liesveld, and Nieuw-Lekkerland on 1 January 2013. On 1 January 2019 it merged with Giessenlanden, together they form the new municipality of Molenlanden. Molenwaard had about 29,000 inhabitants and an area of about 126 km2 (49 sq mi). The largest settlements are Bleskensgraaf, Groot-Ammers, and Nieuw-Lekkerland.
De Balkendsterpoldermolen is a smock mill in Alde Leie, Friesland, Netherlands which was built in 1844. The mill has been restored to working order and is designated as being held in reserve. It is listed as a Rijksmonument.
The Klaarkampstermeermolen or Klaarkampstermolen is a polder windmill in Rinsumageast, Friesland, the Netherlands. Built in 1862 the smock mill was relocated to its current position in 1893 and has been restored several times. Worked by volunteers it still drains the Klaarkampstermeer as of 2022. The mill is listed as a Rijksmonument since 1970 and can be visited by appointment.
De Skarrenmolen is a smock mill in Scharsterbrug, Friesland, Netherlands which was built in 1888. The mill has been restored to working order. It is listed as a Rijksmonument.
The smock mill at the Netherlands Open Air Museum, Arnhem, Gelderland, Netherlands was originally built at Noordlaren, Groningen, Netherlands in 1862. It was dismantled in 1953 and re-erected at the museum in 1960. The mill has been restored to working order.
A hollow post mill at the Netherlands Open Air Museum, Arnhem, Gelderland, Netherlands was originally built at Gouda, South Holland, Netherlands. It was dismantled in 1946 and re-erected at the museum. The mill has been restored to working order.
The Westuit Nr. 7, also called the Koggemolen, is a windmill on the Kolkweg in Aartswoud, Netherlands that has been restored to working order. It is listed as a Rijksmonument, number 31787. The mill is to the south of the Westfriesedijk just outside Aartswoud. It is owned by Stichting de Westfriese Molens.
Nederwaard Molen No.1 is one of the Kinderdijk windmills, in the Dutch municipality of Molenlanden. The mill, which dates from 1738, is inhabited and cannot be visited. The owner is the Kinderdijk World Heritage Foundation. The mill has an iron paddle wheel with a diameter of 6.30 meters with which the low basin of the Nederwaard is drained. The mill has sagged over the years and probably around 1870 a buttress was built against the hull on the northeastern side to prevent further sagging.