Hundreds of windmills in the Netherlands have been opened to visitors

The "National Windmill Day," organized by the Dutch Windmills Foundation, was held for the 53rd time this year.

In the village of Zaanse Schans, a must-visit destination for tourists coming to the Netherlands, the 18th-century windmills were once again a magnet for visitors.

Zaanse Schans, located north of the capital Amsterdam, stands out as a cultural heritage site filled with historic houses, windmills, warehouses, and craft workshops.

In addition to the windmills, the village also features houses reminiscent of the 17th century, still inhabited.

Visitors to Zaanse Schans often stroll in front of the windmills and take souvenir photos.

In and around the village of Zaanse Schans, one of the oldest industrial areas in Western Europe, approximately six hundred windmills once operated simultaneously.

Carla Madurga, who came to the Netherlands from Spain with her family for a trip, said that she loved the many windmills in Zaanse Schans.

Madurga said, “My grandmother, grandfather, mother, father, and brother are all here. I love it. It’s very green and really beautiful.”

The World's Tallest Windmill is Located in Schiedam, Netherlands

Among the 1200 windmills in the Netherlands, the world's tallest windmills are found in Schiedam.

The De Noord windmill, one of the 8 windmills in the city and recorded as the world's tallest at 33.3 meters, was built in the 15th century. Previously used to grind feed and wheat flour for bakers, the windmill has served as a restaurant for 35 years.

In a country that owed a significant portion of its prosperity to windmills, these wind and water-powered mills served various functions. For centuries, the mills ground grain, sawed timber, and extracted oil from seeds. They were also used in the production of paper and dyes, and in rice hulling.

The most common industrial mill in the country is the flour mill. Here, the grain, the basis of bread, is turned into flour. From the 13th century onwards, as the population increased, the demand for grain also increased, leading to the construction of more flour mills. Many flour mills are still in operation in the country.

In the village of Kinderdijk, which is on UNESCO's "Tentative World Heritage List," there are 19 mills dating back to the 15th century.