Museum Mills

The Museum Mills in Kinderdijk are at the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage site, offering visitors a unique opportunity to step inside authentic Dutch windmills and experience centuries of water management history. Of the 19 historic mills that line the waterways, several are open as museum mills, each carefully preserved and furnished to reflect the daily life of millers and their families.

Inside the museum mills, you can climb narrow wooden stairs, explore the living quarters, and see the ingenious mechanisms that have kept the surrounding polders dry for generations. Informational panels and interactive displays explain how the mills work, the challenges of living in a low-lying landscape, and the vital role windmills have played in shaping the Dutch countryside. Knowledgeable guides are often on hand to answer questions and share stories about the millers’ traditions and the evolution of water management technology.

The museum mills are included with a Kinderdijk entrance ticket, which also grants access to visitor centers and boat tours along the canals. The experience is immersive and family-friendly, with plenty to discover both inside the mills and in the picturesque landscape outside. Whether you’re interested in history, engineering, or simply the iconic beauty of the Dutch countryside, the Museum Mills of Kinderdijk provide a memorable and authentic glimpse into the Netherlands’ enduring relationship with water.