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Around Amsterdam, there are several places to see windmills. Here's a good (kid) description
of windmills, "The windmill has big arms that you put sails on to spin
the arms that turn the wheels that scoop the water to somewhere else." |
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Amstel Park – A
single picturesque windmill is located on the Amstel River in the Amstel
Park, south of Amsterdam. Rent bikes, take the bike paths along the
Amstel River, have a picnic and make it a day. (You can follow the route
that Rembrandt took when he painted outdoors, which I thought was fascinating,
but my kids were oblivious.) |
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Zaanse
Schans – The best collection of windmills close to Amsterdam is
the Zaanse Schans in Zaandam. |
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 At the Zaanse Schans, the windmills work and you can climb
out on the deck to see the sails thundering round and round (there are safety
barriers so you can’t get too close.) It’s quite rackety and impressive
inside the windmill too, watching the huge wooden gears turned by the sails! |
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To get a glimpse of a 19th century Dutch household, stop into
the Museum Het Noorderhuis. There are also stores where you can watch
artisans at work. At the De Tinkoepel Tinnegieterij pewter shop, we watched
pewter spoons being hammered into shape. For a quick snack, there's the
De Kraai pancake house. |
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Before visiting Zaanse Schans windmill village, read about historic uses for windmills – to grind flour, colors for dye, make paper, pump out water for more land to grow tulips. At Zaanse Schans the windmills have been restored, and their sails continue to go round and round. (Picture book)
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