Old, picturesque, traditional windmill in North Holland by Silva Wischeropp

This rural idyll with the picturesque old windmill near the fishing village of Volendam in North Holland was taken on 19 November 2017.

Windmills are a national symbol of Holland. For centuries they have played a major role in draining the land and have been used for sawing, grinding, pressing and pumping since the Middle Ages.

Windmills took on various functions in Holland for centuries. Buck windmills were used in the 14th century to drive scoop wheels. The use of wind power made it possible to drain marshes and bogs. An impressive example of this type of windmill can be found in the city of Delft in South Holland. The Molen de Roos windmill was originally a wooden structure that was replaced by a stone building in the 18th century. The windmill has been fully restored and can be visited. Other mills were used for grinding flour or as sawmills. Due to the flat surface structure in Holland, wind power could be used optimally. More than 1,000 historic windmills still stand in all parts of the country. The majority have been restored and converted into museums; only a few windmills are still used to drain marshes.

The National Windmill Day in Holland is dedicated to historic windmills. It always takes place on the second Saturday in May. 950 windmills throughout the country open their doors to the public and guided tours of the historic buildings take place. The tours are complemented by a colourful programme for children. The functioning of the windmills and their importance for land reclamation in Holland are vividly explained to the little ones. If you are spending your holiday home holiday in Holland at this time, we recommend a bicycle tour that takes you through the polder landscapes and villages from windmill to windmill.