Kinderdijk - A Village in the Netherlands

Wednesday - October 8, 2025

LeRoy and Vialula at the Kinderdijk Mill
in the days of yore


Our final destination on this tour is Kinderdijk. We are in the Netherlands now, and the small village we are visiting is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to the nineteen (19) well preserved 18th century windmills, a very obvious juxtaposition considering the very cool and modern drawbridge we passed under as we arrived.

Drawbridge down after riverboat passed through

Drawbridge up just after our ferry passed under

We arrive via ship, only to disembark, and then board a ferry that will take us to Kinderdijk.

Our Ferry

Our guide today is named Dirk, pronounced "Deeeerk" or some such.  The Netherlands is a tiny little country, and the Dutch are shall we say, short and direct, sometimes exacting.  He is a retired school teacher and knows more about windmills than the average bear.

Dirk, our guide


These windmills are located in South Holland where water management and the use of windmills, pumping stations and dikes was so important to control flooding in the low lying areas. It is fascinating to go inside these ingenious machines and see the workings. 




There are always 4 blades and there are as many as 16 different kinds of wood used in building them. One thing I never knew was that these windmills could be rotated 360 degrees to best catch the prevailing wind.  Some were used as mills for corn, cotton and flour. It was a treat to see the old well-preserved windmills still working and being used as they did so many years ago.  Let Vi's photos take you on this romantic tour of the windmills.





We got to go inside one of the windmills.  It was kind of like a lighthouse.  There was the living area, the children's rooms, the bedroom.  Kitchen was outside.  These were the last stairs to climb of our adventure so Vialula climbed them all.


Bedroom

Children's Room

The wooden teeth of the gears that run the mill

"take your shoes off before you come in!"

Dirk did his best to engage us, but he could tell this was our last stop.  Everyone's brains were full and overflowing.  He said when the river cruises come out of Amsterdam, Kinderdijk is the first stop, and the visitors are full of questions and energy.  Our little band of visitors was, truth be told, exhausted. 

We had to get back and pack for our departure tomorrow morning and our farewell tonight.  One thing LeRoy and Vi like to do is be the last ones on the last boat on the last tour to exit.  We did so ... once more.  


last ones on last boat on last tour, our M.O.

Our farewell consisted of a lovely dinner and lots of toasts and thanks to our stewards, captain, entertainment director, hotel director, chef and servers.  It also included toasts to new friends, hoping to see them again soon.


Farewell and thank you to Cherie, Henry & our Captain!

Our friends from East Tennessee and our great Viking dining staff!


Janey, Stephanie and Pam

Martin, Louie and Brian

Mark and Beth celebrated their anniversary, too!


The Viking River Cruise was a different experience than our ocean voyages, but would we take another one?  The answer is a resounding yes.  Not as many sea days is LeRoy's chief complaint, but other than that, no complaints.  Viking is A+ in our book.  Thanks to everyone for following along and to those at home who kept things running while we were away.  So "Tot Ziens" which is "Goodbye" in Dutch.  Until we meet again .... oh, and a very Happy 37th Anniversary to us!






Location: Kinderdijk, Netherlands

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