Heritage Trail Of Dutch Windmills

OVERVIEW

See the inner workings of a functioning windmill within an open-air museum that recreates a Dutch industrial community in the 1700s. In its heyday, the area around the neighborhood of Zaanse Schans boasted as many as 600 windmills and Het Jonge Schaap – which means The Young Sheep – is an exact replica of one that was demolished in 1942. It relies on wind power to operate the sawmill inside to rough-saw beams and planks. Other windmills were used for industrial purposes such as grinding grains and spices and making paint pigments, oils and paper. Windmills also drained low-lying land knowns as polders. During free time at the Zaanse Schans museum, you will see a number of other windmills and craftspeople practicing trades such as wooden-shoe carving and cheesemaking. Zaanse Schans was considered the first industrial area in Europe and few experiences rival walking through this replica Dutch Golden Age community.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore the inside of a replica windmill from the 18th century.
• Come away with an understanding of how windmills grind grains and saw wood.
• Browse an open-air museum with other windmills and workshops for artisans.
• Get a feel for what daily life was like in Europe’s first industrial area.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.