HOLLAND: Kinderdijk - Windmills in winter

Описание: Around 1740 a network of 19 windmills was built to drain the
surrounding of Kinderijk. This surrounding is a beautiful example of a typical Dutch landscape: the polder: areas of land below sea level that are protected by dikes.

Kinderdijk is the only place in the world with so many windmills so
close together in an authentic polder landscape. The nineteen mills, pumping stations, low and high 'boezems' (storage basins), ditches and sluices together form an ingenious water management system in the low-lying polders. This is a typical Dutch, world-class landscape with delightful views, overwhelming cloud formations and stunning nature.

The Kinderdijk windmills are considered a Dutch icon throughout the entire world. The seventeen windmills that were used for water drainage were built between 1738 and 1740. Before then, the area already had polder mills, two of which can still be seen. For many years, these windmills kept the low-lying, peat land of the Alblasserwaard dry. This land was continually threatened by floods and soil compaction. In Kinderdijk, the almost one thousand years of 'battling the water' is still visible in the polder landscape. It’s with good reason, that the Kinderdijk-Elshout windmill complex was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997.

The nature surrounding Kinderdijk is extremely diverse, ranging from flying birds to crawling amphibians, swimming fish and creeping weasels. Every now and then, rare plants are found and the insect population is huge. Thanks to the immense biodiversity, a walk or bike ride around Kinderdijk and the Alblasserwaard is an experience to remember. So are you visiting Holland and are you looking for a fun and unique day trip? Then you definitely don’t want to miss out on visiting Kinderdijk and exploring the surrounding area!

This video shows you de windmills in winter. Snow covers the mills and the meadows. At any corner you see en hear the waterfowl like Wild Ducks, Eurasian Wigeons, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Grey Heron, Great Egret, Stork, Cormorant, Grebe and many other species.

Watch more at:
http://www.visdief.nl/

In 1997, the windmill complex of Kinderdijk was added to the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage list because of its unique character. UNESCO considers the polder area with its dykes, boezems, mills and pumping stations to be proof of human inventiveness in reclaiming and protecting the land. This is worldwide recognition of the fact that this unique area must be preserved for the future.

The gorgeous windmills of Kinderdijk are part of a unique phenomenon. Nowhere else in the world can you find the complete history of water management at a single location. The windmills and pumping stations drain the excess water from the Alblasserwaard into the river Lek via the Elshout sluices. Subsequently, the river discharges the water into the sea.