Windmills are the Dutch icon, and just over 1,000 of them are still standing. If you want to see the best windmills in the Netherlands up close, start with Kinderdijk, Zaanse Schans, Schiedam, and Schermerhorn. Each one gives you something different, from a UNESCO row of 19 to the tallest traditional windmills in the world.
Kinderdijk near Rotterdam has the biggest group of old windmills in the country. Zaanse Schans is the easy pick for windmills near Amsterdam, with working mills you can climb. Schiedam has the tallest traditional windmills on the planet. For a quieter visit, the Schermerhorn Museum Mill in North Holland is a working polder mill you can explore from top to bottom.
Visit on National Windmill Day, held the second Saturday of May (May 8 in 2027). Hundreds of mills open their doors and many are turning.
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Best Windmills in the Netherlands at a Glance
Not sure where the windmills are? Here is where to find the best ones and what each is good for.
| Windmill spot | Where | Best for | Go inside? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kinderdijk | Near Rotterdam | Most windmills in one place (19) | Yes, two museum mills |
| Zaanse Schans | North of Amsterdam | Working windmills and crafts | Yes, several (fee) |
| Schiedam | Near Rotterdam | Tallest traditional windmills in the world | Yes, museum mills |
| Schermerhorn | North Holland | Quiet, working polder mill | Yes, the Museum Mill |
| Leiden | South Holland | A city windmill museum | Yes, De Valk |
| Haarlem | North Holland | River and city views | Yes, guided tour |
| Amsterdam | In the city | Windmills without a day trip | Molen van Sloten yes, De Gooyer no |
| Keukenhof | Lisse | Windmill with tulip views (spring) | Yes, with park entry |
History of Dutch Windmills
Why Is the Netherlands Famous for Windmills?
Much of the country sits at or below sea level, so keeping the land dry was a national project. Windmills were the engines that made it possible. They pumped water out of lakes and marshes to create polders, and they powered early industry too. That is why the Netherlands is the country most people think of when you say windmill. Millers were respected members of their communities, and windmills show up in old Dutch paintings, family crests, and even Dutch souvenirs.
Netherlands Windmills History: From the 1200s to Today
Windmills first appeared in the Netherlands in the 1200s, and the earliest ones ground grain. By the 1400s the Dutch had adapted the design to pump water out of wet land. Bigger tower and smock mills followed, and they sawed timber, pressed oil, ground pigments and spices, and made paper. The Zaan region became one of Europe’s first industrial areas. The number of windmills peaked in the 19th century at an estimated 9,000 or more. Then steam engines, electric pumps, and modern industry made most of them obsolete.
How Many Windmills Are Left in the Netherlands?
Just over 1,000 windmills still stand today, along with about 100 watermills. The push to save them began in the 1920s, and De Hollandsche Molen, founded in 1923, still works to preserve them. The Guild of Volunteer Millers trains people to run them. Most are protected monuments, and many are now museums.
The Netherlands is home to numerous windmills that you can explore. A blue flag flying from a windmill indicates that it is open to visitors.
Different Types of Windmills in the Netherlands
Not all Dutch windmills look alike. The shape depends on the job. Here is how to tell the main types apart.
Post Mills and Hollow Post Mills
Post mills are the oldest type. The whole wooden body sits on a big post and is turned by hand to face the wind. The hollow post mill, or wipmolen, was the Dutch twist. The drive shaft runs down through a hollow post to power a water pump, which made it perfect for draining polders. You will spot them by their small boxy body on top of a thatched pyramid.
Tower Mills and Ground Sailers
Tower mills have round stone or brick bodies with a cap on top that turns to face the wind. Tall ones often have a gallery around the body so the miller can reach the sails, like De Valk in Leiden. Ground sailers are low tower mills with sails that reach almost to the ground. They catch less wind but are cheap to build and easy to maintain.
Smock Mills and Polder Mills
Smock mills look like they are wearing a skirt. They have an eight-sided wooden body and a cap that turns, and you will see plenty of this Zaan-style along the river at Zaanse Schans. “Polder mill” is a job, not a shape. Any mill that pumps water is one, including the 19 at Kinderdijk and the Schermer mills.
What Were Windmills Used For in the Netherlands?
Windmills did much more than grind flour. Most importantly, they drained land, like at Kinderdijk. They also ground grain (De Valk in Leiden), malt for jenever (Schiedam), paint pigments (De Kat), spices (De Huisman), and pressed oil (De Zoeker). Het Jonge Schaap even sawed timber.
Dutch Windmills vs. Modern Wind Turbines
Today’s wind turbines are the high-tech cousins of the old mills. In 2023, wind produced about 29 billion kWh of Dutch electricity and the country had 11 GW of capacity, according to CBS. You will spot turbines across the countryside and offshore, and De Nolet in Schiedam is one dressed up as a historic mill.
Where to See Windmills in the Netherlands: Top Destinations
Kinderdijk: The Most Famous Windmills in the Netherlands
Kinderdijk is windmill heaven. This UNESCO World Heritage Site near Rotterdam has 19 windmills built around 1740, lined up along the canals of the Alblasserwaard polder. It is the biggest group of historic windmills in the country, and if you only have time for one stop, make it this one. It is also a great contrast to Rotterdam’s architectural gems.
Most of the 19 mills are still family homes, so you admire them from the paths. You can walk or bike around the site for free. To use the visitor attractions, you need a ticket. It covers the two museum mills, a boat tour along the canals, the Wisboom pumping station, and a short film at De Fabriek. Adult tickets run roughly €18 to €21 depending on the day. You can book your Kinderdijk entry ticket in advance.
Step inside the Nederwaard museum mill to see how an 18th century miller’s family lived, including the bedroom where up to ten kids slept. Blokweer is set up like a 20th century home, and there are goats outside, which kids love. Go early for misty, golden light and fewer people. The boat tour gives you a view of the mills from the water.
How to get there: From Rotterdam, take the Waterbus (line 20), about 45 minutes through the working harbor. A faster WaterShuttle runs on select days. Book the Waterbus or WaterShuttle here. Staying in Amsterdam? Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours each way, so a guided Kinderdijk day trip from Amsterdam saves the hassle. Not sure where to base yourself? Read our guide to Rotterdam or The Hague.
Zaanse Schans: Working Windmills Near Amsterdam
Zaanse Schans is the easiest way to see Dutch windmills on a day trip. It sits about 20 minutes north of Amsterdam by train, and it is an open-air village on the Zaan River with about eight working windmills, wooden houses, and craft workshops. The village is free to walk around. You pay to go inside the mills, at around €7.50 each or buy a Zaanse Schans Card that covers entry to all the museums and workshops as well as 2 of the windmills. Parking is paid too.
If you only enter one mill, make it De Kat, the last working paint mill in the world. Climb up to the balcony for the best view of the whole row. De Zoeker presses oil, Het Jonge Schaap is a sawmill, and De Huisman grinds spices. Some mills close from November to March, so check ahead. It gets busy, so go early.
I wrote a full guide with tickets, the Zaanse Schans Card, and what else to do, so use our Zaanse Schans day trip from Amsterdam guide. Prefer not to plan the transport? This half-day tour from Amsterdam handles it all.
The Windmills of Schiedam: The Tallest Windmills in the World
Schiedam sits just outside Rotterdam and has the tallest traditional windmills in the world. Five historic mills still stand: De Noord, De Vrijheid, De Nieuwe Palmboom, De Walvisch, and Drie Koornbloemen. De Noord tops out at about 33 meters (108 feet). They were built tall on purpose. Schiedam was the center of the jenever (Dutch gin) industry, and the mills had to rise above the warehouses to catch the wind for grinding malt.
Two newer mills join them. De Kameel is a corn mill built in 2010. De Nolet, at about 43 meters, is a wind turbine from the mid-2000s disguised as a traditional mill to power the Nolet distillery. It is the tallest “windmill” in town, but it is a modern turbine, not a historic one.
You can go inside De Nieuwe Palmboom and De Walvisch, both museum mills, and climb up for views toward Rotterdam. Pair it with the National Jenever Museum for the full story of how the gin industry built these giants.
Schermerhorn Museum Mill: Windmills Without the Crowds
Want windmills without the tour buses? Head to the Schermer polder in North Holland, roughly 30 to 40 kilometers north of Amsterdam. Some 52 windmills once kept this polder dry. Today 11 remain, and the row of three at Schermerhorn is the classic photo. One of them, the Museum Mill, is a working polder mill you can climb from bottom to top.
A short film in the visitor center explains how the mills lifted water up in steps, and the cafe sells authentic clogs. The mill is open seasonally, roughly April through October, so check museummolen.nl for current hours. It is easiest by car with free parking, or by bike. Public transport takes several transfers. The mill interior is not wheelchair accessible.
Two Windmills in Leiden
While Leiden may not be the first destination that comes to mind when thinking of a windmill site, it offers a charming and less crowded alternative to the more famous sites. The city is home to two beautifully preserved windmills: Molen de Valk and Molen de Put.
Molen de Valk, an impressive tower mill dating back to 1743, now serves as a museum where visitors can explore its seven floors and learn about the milling process and the life of the miller. De Valk is the last of the 19 mills that once stood on Leiden’s ramparts. It is closed on Mondays and an adult ticket is about €6.
Molen de Put, a picturesque post mill originally built in 1619 and reconstructed in 1987, stands proudly near the historic city center.
Visiting these windmills in Leiden provides a unique opportunity to delve into Dutch history and enjoy the serene beauty of this vibrant university town, making it a delightful secondary location for windmill enthusiasts. Use our guide to Leiden that includes both these mills in a one day itinerary.
Haarlem
Located along the Spaarne River in Haarlem, the iconic De Adriaan windmill was originally built in 1779 and rebuilt in 2002 after a fire in 1932. The guided tour lasts about 45 minutes, and the viewing platform is about 12 meters up. Climbing to the top offers stunning panoramic views of Haarlem’s historic city center and the river. De Adriaan also hosts various cultural events and workshops throughout the year, making it a must-visit for history buffs and photography enthusiasts alike.
Keukenhof Gardens
Viewing the Keukenhof windmill at Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse in the springtime is a delightful experience. Nestled among the vibrant and expansive flower displays in the spring, it is one of the most beautiful windmills in the Netherlands and offers a picturesque backdrop that perfectly complements the stunning gardens. It was originally built as a polder mill in Groningen in 1892 and moved to Keukenhof in 1957. The windmill is free to climb with your park ticket. Keukenhof opens March 18 to May 9 in 2027, and you need a timed ticket. Book a Keukenhof ticket with transfer from Amsterdam
Windmills Near Amsterdam and in Amsterdam
Staying in Amsterdam? You do not need a rental car to see Dutch windmills. Here are the best windmills near Amsterdam, plus the ones inside the city.
Best Windmills Near Amsterdam (Easy Day Trips)
Zaanse Schans is the top pick, about 20 minutes north by train. For a quieter option, the Schermerhorn Museum Mill is roughly 30 to 40 kilometers north, and it is best by car or bike. In spring, the Keukenhof windmill is about 55 minutes away by shuttle bus, and De Adriaan in Haarlem is 15 to 20 minutes by train. Combining stops? This guided tour pairs Zaanse Schans with Volendam, Edam, and Marken, and our Waterland day trip guide covers the area. The Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket covers regional buses and trains.
Windmills in Amsterdam: De Gooyer, Molen van Sloten and More
Amsterdam has eight windmills, but only one is regularly open to visitors. Molen van Sloten is a reconstructed working polder mill from 1847 on the western edge of the city. De Gooyer is the one you will see on postcards. It was built in 1725, moved to its current spot in 1814, and it is the tallest wooden windmill in the Netherlands. It sits next to the Brouwerij ‘t IJ brewery, so grab a local beer. You cannot go inside, but it is a great spot for photos in Amsterdam. Want a guided look? Browse Amsterdam windmill tours.
Visiting Windmills: Tips and Best Practices
Planning your windmill trip takes a bit of know-how. You’ll want to time it right and mind your manners. Here’s what you need to know.
Best Time to Visit Dutch Windmills
Spring and fall are great. The weather is mild and crowds are smaller than summer. Tulip season runs into May, and Keukenhof opens March 18 to May 9 in 2027. Winter is quieter, and Kinderdijk and Zaanse Schans stay open, but some mills close from November to March. Summer is busy but lively, so book tours ahead from June to August.
National Windmill Day is the second Saturday of May (May 8, 2027). Hundreds of mills open and many are turning.
How to Tell If a Windmill Is Open: Blue Flags and Sail Positions
A blue flag flying from a windmill usually means it is open to visitors, but always check hours. The sails talk too. Sails stopped in an X mean a long rest, so the mill is out of action. A sail stopped just before the top signals a celebration like a wedding or a birth, and just after the top signals mourning. Meanings can vary by region. Fun fact: Dutch windmill sails always turn counterclockwise.
How to Get to the Windmills: Trains, Waterbus and Tours
You do not need a car. Zaanse Schans is a short train ride from Amsterdam Centraal, and Kinderdijk is easiest by Waterbus from Rotterdam. Keukenhof has seasonal shuttle buses from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Schiphol. If you would rather skip the transfers, a guided day tour handles it. Look at Kinderdijk tours and Zaanse Schans tours.
Windmills in the Netherlands FAQ
Where is the best place to see windmills in the Netherlands?
Kinderdijk is the best place to see the most windmills at once, with 19 historic mills in a UNESCO World Heritage landscape near Rotterdam. Zaanse Schans is best for working windmills near Amsterdam, and Schiedam has the tallest traditional windmills in the world.
Why is Holland famous for windmills?
Much of the country is low-lying, so the Dutch used windmills to drain lakes and marshes and create farmland. Windmills also powered early industry, especially in the Zaan region. Today they are a national symbol, and Kinderdijk is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Can you go inside Dutch windmills?
Yes, at museum mills and working mills such as those at Kinderdijk, Zaanse Schans, Schermerhorn, Leiden, and Haarlem. Many other windmills are private homes. A blue flag usually means a mill is open, but always check opening hours.
