Kinderdijk & Delft

Monday June 9, 2014

We really lucked out with many of the Netherlands national holidays occurring right after our move. Joe had off this Monday, the day after Pentecost so off we went on our next daytrip adventure. We started our day at Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. This is a unique polder area of dykes, boezems, mills and pumping stations is a testament of human inventiveness in reclaiming & protecting the land. Kinderdijk is the only place in the world with so many windmills so close together in an authentic polder landscape. This area is below sealevel and surrounded by rivers and canals. The 17 windmills used for water drainage were built between 1738 and 1740.
We paid 5 euros to park which included a free coffee at the pumping station visitor center.
Unfortunately we didn’t have clear blue skies as forecast, but we still made the most of our visit even if our pictures didn’t turn out the best.
Windmill landscape 

Windmill 

Windmill (Museummolen Nederwaard) that you could visit for an additional fee to learn how the mill works 

Hehe we’re having a Dutch baby 

There are boat rides you can take to view Kinderdijk. 

We chose to walk the trails to see most of the windmills. 

Windmill canal landscape 

Operating windmill, Museum Blokweer 

Lilly pads in canal at Kinderdijk 

Windmill 

Wildflowers & windmill 

Windmill 

Dutch oasis 

Enjoying Dutch country

Joe complained about needing to pay to use the toilet as we left. I am usually in the same boat, but I know the cost of maintaining the historical nature of some of these sites and I feel okay with paying for facilities for others to continue to enjoy this protected site for years to come. 

Next we decided to drive over to Delft and walk around. It was pouring last time Joe tried to visit there and Jackie thought Delft would be more fun than modern Rotterdam which she’s already visited.
Yet another beautiful canal city, Delft. It is known for Delftware, its blue pottery.

Markt and City Hall (excuse the overexposure: I didn’t recheck the camera settings from overcast Kinderdijk to bright and sunny Delft)

Markt 

Nieuwe Church 

We ate a late lunch at the outdoor covered patio at Het Gulden ABC who still had hours going for brunch. Jackie got a savory Dutch pancake with bacon, cheese, tomato and peppers and Joe got croquettes and frites. And yes, Jackie easily ate it all. Can you tell she's pregnant and eating for 2?

Markt and Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) 

Markt 

Looking back toward Markt Square and Nieuwe Church 

Hippolytusbuurt canal 

Oude Kerk (Old Church) 

I love this old street lamp 

We walked back to Nieuwe Church constructed between 1381-1496 

It cost money to go in because it contains the Dutch Royal family’s burial vault. Willem de oranje is buried here, the father of Holland. 

We walked by Beestenmarkt 

Then we walked down to Oostpoort, the only remaining town gate of Delft built around 1400.

Delft canal houseboats