Blogs from Ridderkerk, South Holland, Netherlands, Europe

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Europe » Netherlands » South Holland » Ridderkerk September 5th 2016

(Typed at British Airways Lounge - Edinburgh, Scotland 9/16/16) We cast off from Cologne about 11:30am, continuing our northward journey. Small towns, churches, fortresses and castles were scattered along the river. About 3:00pm we docked at Kinderdijk, South Holland, The Netherlands. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site, where 19 windmills, built between 1738 and 1742, still line the waterways. They were the original pumps to remove water from the boggy ground and create usable land. This job for this region is now done by giant lifts that look like screws. This was another walking tour. This one included going inside an operational windmill that once housed a family of 14. All the parts/gears are made of wood and when something wears out replacements are made the same way as in the 18th century. The Dutch ... read more
Windmill Family
Water Removal Now




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