Kinderdijk

Kinderdijk is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to its historic windmills.  The town itself is tiny, with fewer than 800 people. Once docked, we met our tour guide, Hermi, a local volunteer. She led us off the ship, over the dike, and down a long path to see a workshop. There she explained the workings of windmills and showed us wooden cogs and sprockets involved in the process.  

Along the way she pointed out a sculpture of a cat on a cradle, which commemorates an old story about a flood in which a baby in a cradle floated away.  The family cat stayed with the cradle for hours, keeping it upright. 

The windmills soon came into view.

I especially admired the miller’s garden. So tidy! 

We were able to tour the very tight interior of the windmill, though only Rob and Eleanor braved the steep ladders between floors to see the children’s room and the windmill works. We saw their living area and parent’ room, with a tiny bunk across the foot of their bed for a baby to sleep in. Very practical!

We then made our way back to the ship, just in time for lunch.  As I write this, it’s tea time in the lounge, and we just passed Loevestein Castle, built in the 1300s. 

Tomorrow we’ll be in Cologne, Germany, where I think we have a walking tour planned.