Today we traveled all over and saw some really cool stuff. But I really think my favorite part of our travels today were the windmills at Kinderdijk. It is awesome that the Dutch have preserved these old windmills so that people from all over the world can see them and see what it would’ve been like to live in one (very cramped sleeping spaces considering the Dutch are supposed to be so tall). Since Kinderdijk is a World Heritage Site it will continue to be preserved for generations to come.
The windmills used to be critical in keeping the Netherlands high and dry (or low and dry). They enabled the Dutch to lift water over the dikes and out to sea keeping the mainland protected from flooding. But there was a catch; one windmill can only lift the water 1 meter. That’s why they had to build so many, each one in succession to get the water up and out. Sadly they don’t use windmills anymore instead they used Archimedes screws to move water. Using this technique they can move more water faster which definitely makes the difference keeping peoples's homes and businesses safe.
View from one of the wonderful windmill's windows.
The Archimedes screws they use today.
Suzie
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