Kinderdijk is a village in the
Alblasserwaard polder of Netherlands. It’s a popular, yet authentic, tourist
destination for its large of windmills.
These received recognition as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
Everyone
has a favorite place in this world. A place that they most liked. A place where
they can be comfortable and enjoy. Beside, everyone has a place that they most
wanted to visit. It will make everyone happy and satisfied if they can go to a
place that they want. My favorite place, especially in vacation, I’d like to go
to a place that so far from my house. I want to feel the different contrast in
environment. And the place that I most want to visit is Kidnerdjik.
Kidnerdijk lies in the Alblasserwaard, at the
confluence of the Lek and Noord rivers. In Alblasserwaard, problems with water
became more and more apparent in the 13th century. Large canals,
called “weteringen”, were dug to get rid of the excess water in the polders.
However, the drained soil started setting, while the level of the river rose
due to the river’s sand deposits. After
a few centuries, an additional way to keep the polders dry was required. It was
decided to build a series of windmills, with a limited capacity to bridge water
level differences, but just able to pump water into a reservoir at an
intermediate level between the soil in the polder and the river; the reservoir
could be pumped out into the river by other windmills whenever the river level
was low enough; the river level has both seasonal and the tidal variations.
If
we want to go there, we can take a public transit. As Kinderdijk is in a rural
area, getting there with public transport can be a time-consuming process. The
easiest way to get there is to first take a train to railway station Rotterdam
Lombardijen. This station is easily accessible from the major cities. We will
have to continue our way by bus. When leaving the railway station, cross the
street and tram lines to get to the bus stop.
Another
fun way to go there is by boat. We can
also take Water bus ferry from Rotterdam (under the Erasmus bridge) or from
Dordrecht (on Merwekade). Take route 20 and get off at Ridderkerk (De Schans).
There we have to transfer to a smaller ferry to Kinderdijk.
If we arrived there, automatically we will see a
wonderful scenery in front of our eyes. We can feel like in the real
Netherlands, because of green grasses, the wind and the windmills. The best way
to see the windmills is on foot or by bicycle. Bike rental is available. In the
summer season (April-October), we can make a boat tour in the canal along the
windmills. It starts at the parking lot, costs €4 (IDR 60.0000) and takes about
30 minutes. The first boat leaves at 10AM, while the last boat heads out at
5PM.
When in Kinderdjik, do not forget to see the
windmills of the most awesome among others. The Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout
is the large concentration of old windmills in the Netherlands. The windmills,
being a part of the general landscape, are free to visit. In total there are 19
windmills that were built in 1740 to drain the Albasserwaard. The mills are not
always in operation; this depends on the weather.
One of the windmills, the Museummolen, can be
visited inside, and a visit is usually combined with the steam-powered pumping
station Wisboomgemaal.
The
Museummolen and the Wisboomgemaal are opened at 09.30-17.30 daily in the summer
season. Outside the summer season, they are only opened at 11.00-16.00 on
weekends. Ticket are €6 and can be bought at the parking lot, at the
Museummolen or at the Wisboomgemaal. The Wisboomgemaal has a victor’s centre, a
digital scale model an introductory film. Some of the facilities here include
free restrooms and soda machines.
Aside from walking around comfortably in Kinderdjik,
Cycling is a popular activity in Kinderdijk. We can cycling along the
windmills, or in the wider are. It is even possible to cycle all the way to
here from Rotterdam. By bike we can easily combine a visit to Kinderdijk with
other tourist attractions, such as Schoonhoven (Silver City), the fortress town
of Nieuwpoort and Stork Village Het Liesvelt.
After satisfaction of seeing and enjoying the beauty
of Kinderdijk, surely we would want to bring a souvenir from there. Even though
Kinderdjik is not really a place to go shopping, but we can buy souvenirs from
the usual gift shops on there.
And actually humans need energy. If we are hungry,
there are a few restaurants at the entrance of the park. For example Buena Vista Restaurant, Molenstraat 230
(near the entrance of the park). This restaurant is housed in a historic
building at the main road close to the windmills. It has an old-Dutch luxurious
interior that has a traditional appearance. On the menu are meat and fish
dishes and Dutch pancakes €20-30 (IDR 200.000 – 300.000). And if we are thirsty
there is Coffee too, Coffee for an affordable price right at the entrance of
the park.
For someone who want to spend more time in
Kinderdjik, there is also some hotel there. For example is Hotel Kinderdijk. This is a decent hotel rooms for mid-range
prices. There’s also a restaurant attached to it where you can have dinner or
lunch. Mains are about €17-20. It is possible to make a reservation €70.
Why
I’m so interesting to go to this place?
I
love something that looks natural. I love to go to the place where it is not
crowded, when it is not looks many tourist, when I can feel the air, the
temperature, the scenery when my hair blown with wind and all the things on
there like it is belongs to me.
There
is so many places in the world that looks like what I am describe, but I choose
Kinderdijk because I love Netherlands so much. Even though I’m not fanatic with
Netherlands, but I’m in love with all spot in Europe, especially Netherlands. I
want to see Canal in Amsterdam, I want to see all tulips in Keukenhof garden,
but I really want to Kinderdijk first. I think Kinderdijk is like the mascot of
Netherlands which is windmills and the scenery is such a wonderful view, like
in heaven. I choose Kinderdijk too because the temperature is good and the air
is so clear without pollution. I imagine that I can run freely among the reeds
and grasses in there or maybe riding with bicycle. I can feel the wind that
produced by big windmills too. And I can across the river with big windmills on
my left and right side. It will be the best moment in my life. It will be the
best travel experience I ever had. I wish I could stay on there for a long
time.
Until
then I will fight for my dreams for my success,
And
bring everyone I loved to go to Kinderdijk…
