Beyond the Postcard: 6 Visual Secrets of the Kinderdijk Windmills

When you browse images of the Kinderdijk Windmills in Kinderdijk, Netherlands, you are looking at more than just a pretty landscape. You are seeing a 700-year-old battle against the water.

While most people know this UNESCO World Heritage site is famous, few know the hidden stories behind the sails. Here are six surprising facts that will change the way you look at these Dutch icons.

1. The Windmills Have a “Secret Language”

If you look closely at a photo of the Kinderdijk Windmills, the position of the sails isn’t random—it’s a communication system. For centuries, millers used the sails to send messages to the community.

• The “Joy” Position: Sails stopped just before the peak indicate a birth or marriage.
• The “Mourning” Position: Sails stopped just past the peak signal a death in the family.
• The “Emergency” Position: All mills facing a specific direction could signal a dike breach or fire.

2. There Is a Tale of Two Rows (Brick vs. Thatch)

Photographers often notice that the mills don’t all look the same. That is because they were built by two different water boards. The Nederwaard mills (built in 1738) are round and constructed of sturdy red brick. Across the canal, the Overwaard mills (built in 1740) are octagonal and covered in thatch. This contrast in texture makes for incredible close-up photography.

3. People Still Live Inside Them

Those tiny windows aren’t just for show. Many of the Kinderdijk Windmills are still inhabited, some by families who have lived there for generations. Living in a windmill is a lifestyle commitment; the walls are slanted, the space is cramped, and the entire house shakes when the sails are turning!

4. The Legend of the “Cat’s Cradle”

One of the most famous legends of Kinderdijk, Netherlands involves a cat and a baby. During the terrible St. Elizabeth’s Flood of 1421, survivors allegedly spotted a cradle bobbing on the waves. As it drifted closer, they saw a cat jumping frantically back and forth to keep the cradle balanced. When it washed ashore, the baby inside was sound asleep and dry. This story is said to be the origin of the name Kinderdijk (Children’s Dike).

5. They Are Seasonal Shapeshifters

The atmosphere at the Kinderdijk Windmills changes drastically with the seasons.

• Winter: In freezing years, the canals turn to ice, and locals skate between the mills—a tradition that dates back centuries.
• September: During “Illumination Week,” the mills are floodlit at night, creating dramatic reflections in the dark water that are a favorite for night photographers.

6. They Were WWII Heroes

These mills are not just antiques; they are backup generators. During World War II, when fuel for modern pumping stations ran out, the millers at Kinderdijk put the old wind-powered mills back into active service. They successfully drained the polders and kept the land dry, proving that 18th-century technology could still save the day.