9 Best Dutch Windmills to Visit in the Netherlands (Beyond Zaanse Schans)
Looking for the best Dutch windmills to visit? Explore 9 historic windmills near Amsterdam and across the Netherlands, with history, photography tips, and visitor advice from a photographer who spent seven years living in Holland.
Updated June 7, 2026: Added new windmills near Amsterdam, including Molen De Put and Molenmuseum De Valk in Leiden, South Holland, plus updated National Windmill Day photography, visitor tips, and windmill locations throughout the Netherlands. Added Molen De Volksvriend near Eindhoven.
Looking for the best Dutch windmills to visit? After spending seven years living and photographing across the Netherlands, I've explored windmills throughout North Holland and South Holland—from famous locations like Zaanse Schans and Kinderdijk to lesser-known favorites in Haarlem, Leiden, Aarlanderveen, Schermerhorn, and Gemert near Eindhoven.
As a fine art landscape photographer and fine art printmaker based in the Netherlands for the past seven years, I've spent countless mornings photographing historic Dutch windmills across changing light, seasons, and weather conditions. Many of the images featured throughout this guide are available as museum-quality fine art prints, personally crafted in my Netherlands studio.
This guide highlights 9 of the best Dutch windmills to visit, along with their history, photography opportunities, and practical visitor tips.
And when everything comes together—windmills rising above the water, tulip fields in bloom, and canals reflecting the evening sky—it's easy to understand why these landscapes have captivated travelers and photographers for generations.
There’s one windmill in particular that’s become part of my routine— The Riekermolen in Amsterdam. It sits along one of my regular 10K step walks from home, and no matter the season or the light (it's always about the light!), it never really looks the same twice. Some mornings it’s completely still, reflected in calm water. Other days, the skies light up against fast-moving clouds. It’s simple, but it never ceases to amaze me.
The windmills of the Netherlands are some of the most recognizable landmarks in Europe—but they’re far more than scenic icons.
Built to manage water, power industry, and support daily life, these structures helped shape the country itself. Today, they remain part of the landscape—working, preserved, and still deeply connected to Dutch culture.
For visitors, windmills offer something unique: not just something to see, but something to experience.
Best Windmills Near Amsterdam
Looking for the best windmills in the Netherlands without traveling far from Amsterdam? From Amsterdam and Haarlem to Leiden, Schermerhorn, and Aarlanderveen, these are some of the most beautiful and historic windmills in the Netherlands. Many are easy day trips from Amsterdam and offer a more authentic experience than the crowded windmills at Zaanse Schans.
- Zaanse Schans - The most famous windmill destination in the Netherlands and a great first visit, though often crowded during peak season.
- Molen van Sloten – One of the best windmills to tour inside near Amsterdam without the crowds.
- De Adriaan (Haarlem) – A beautiful riverside windmill in one of the Netherlands' most charming cities.
- Molen De Put & Molenmuseum De Valk (Leiden) – Two excellent historic windmills in a walkable university city.
- De Riekermolen – A classic Dutch windmill along the Amstel River just on the edge of Amsterdam.
- De Gooyer – Amsterdam's most famous city windmill.
- De Zwaan – A peaceful riverside windmill near Ouderkerk aan de Amstel.
- Schermerhorn Windmills – Historic drainage mills surrounded by classic North Holland polder landscapes.
- Molenviergang Aarlanderveen – The world's only operating four-windmill water management system.
While Zaanse Schans is the most famous windmill destination in the Netherlands, the windmills below offer quieter experiences, unique history, and some of the best photography opportunities near Amsterdam. Most can be visited as easy half-day or full-day excursions from Amsterdam by train, bicycle, or car.
Windmills Beyond Amsterdam
If you're willing to venture farther from Amsterdam, no guide to Dutch windmills would be complete without Kinderdijk.
While many of the Netherlands' most photogenic windmills can be visited as day trips from Amsterdam, some of the country's most famous windmill landscapes are located farther afield. If you're planning a longer road trip or exploring other regions of the Netherlands, these destinations are well worth adding to your itinerary.
Among them, Kinderdijk stands out as one of the most iconic windmill sites in the world. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it preserves one of the largest collections of historic drainage windmills in the Netherlands and offers a remarkable look at the engineering systems that helped shape the Dutch landscape.
Best Windmills Near Amsterdam · National Windmill Day · Amsterdam Windmills · Haarlem · Leiden · Aarlanderveen · Schermerhorn · Windmills Beyond Amsterdam · Kinderdijk · Fine Art Prints · FAQ
Why There Are So Many Windmills in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is home to approximately 1,200 historic windmills, each built with a specific purpose.
Historically, windmills were used for:
- Pumping water from low-lying land (we have a LOT of water here!)
- Grinding grain, flour and paint
- Industrial processes like sawing timber (there aren't many of these around these days)
This practical role is what makes them so significant. Without windmills, large parts of the Netherlands wouldn’t exist as they do today!
What Is National Windmill Day (Nationale Molendag)?
One of the best ways to experience windmills is during National Windmill Day, held each year in mid-May. In 2026, National Windmill Day was held on May 9 and May 10.
Organized by De Hollandsche Molen, this event brings windmills across the country to life.
Each year:
- More than 900 windmills participate
- Over 100,000 visitors explore mills across the country
During the weekend:
- Many windmills open to the public
- Others remain closed but fully operational, with sails turning
- Volunteer millers explain how the systems work
👉 Even without going inside, this is one of the rare times when so many windmills are active at once.
National Windmill Day 2026:
During National Windmill Day 2026, my wife and I spent time exploring several of the Schermerhorn windmills beneath beautiful blue skies in North Holland. One of the highlights was visiting with Peter, a miller who has lived inside one of the windmills for more than 50 years. He was actually the first person who introduced me to National Windmill Day years ago while I was photographing tulip fields nearby.
It was wonderful returning to see him again, introducing him to my wife, and hearing stories about the history of the mills and the many changes he has witnessed over the decades. Experiences like this are what make the Dutch windmills feel truly alive — not just as historic structures, but as part of a living cultural landscape still deeply connected to the people who care for them today.
When to Go visit Windmills on National Windmill Day
- Saturday, May 9, 2026 → Best day to visit - more mills open
- Sunday, May 10, 2026 → Fewer mills open
If access matters, prioritize Saturday—more windmills are open and active.
To see which ones are open and giving tours, check out the De Hollandsche Molen website.
From a visitor perspective:
- Morning: quieter conditions and fewer crowds
- Evening: more atmosphere and movement across the landscape
See my notes below for which one is my favorite for National Windmill Day!
Other Regional Windmill Days Across the Netherlands
While Nationale Molendag in May is the largest windmill event in the Netherlands, many regions also host smaller windmill weekends and open-house events throughout the year. These local molendagen often provide quieter, more authentic experiences with fewer crowds and excellent photography opportunities.
Events take place across North Holland, South Holland, Zeeland, Friesland, Groningen, and other regions throughout spring, summer, and autumn.
👉 You can find the current schedule of regional Dutch windmill days on the official De Hollandsche Molen website:
https://www.molens.nl/ontdek-molens/molendagen
Will you see tulips during National Windmill Day this year?
No—unfortunately not.
Tulips were only near a small number of windmills this season, and by the time National Windmill Day arrives, most fields have already been cut.
👉 While the classic tulips-and-windmills scene is possible some years, it’s the exception—not the rule.
What you will find instead are open landscapes, fresh green fields, and fully active windmills—which, in many ways, is an even more authentic Dutch experience.
Bring the Beauty of the Netherlands Into Your Home
From historic windmills and colorful tulip fields to quiet canals and Dutch countryside landscapes, these images are available as museum-quality fine art prints designed to bring a sense of place, calm, and beauty into homes, offices, and interior spaces.
Why Skip Zaanse Schans? (Or Time It Right)
It’s iconic—but it’s also the busiest windmill location in the country.
Zaanse Schans is one of the most famous windmill locations in the Netherlands—and for good reason. But it comes with tradeoffs:
- Extremely crowded, especially mid-day
- Feels more like an open-air museum than a working landscape
- Limited space for quiet moments or unique perspectives
👉 If you do go to Zaanse Schans, go early or go late.
Sunrise and evening offer softer light, fewer crowds, and a much more enjoyable experience.
Visiting Windmills in Amsterdam (Skip Zaanse Schans)
If you want a more authentic experience near Amsterdam, there are better options than Zaanse Schans—especially if you prefer space, character, and fewer crowds.
Windmills You Can See Up Close near Amsterdam
Molen van Sloten Windmill in Amsterdam
- Molen Van Sloten (1990) – full interior tours, highly educational. This is one of the best places in the Netherlands to actually understand how a windmill works. Regular guided tours are available, and there’s even a local brewery (Brouwerij De 7 Deugden) and cheese farm (Kaasboerderij Sloten) nearby.
- Clear explanations of the mechanics
- Interior access
- A connected cooperage museum
De Riekermolen Windmill in Amsterdam
- De Riekermolen – A quieter, local setting along the Amstel—less crowded, more personal. This is my regular visited windmill, but no tours are available and the sails are rarely turning on this one.
De Gooyer Windmill in Amsterdam
- De Gooyer – iconic windmill next to Brouwerij ’t IJ (and some of my favorite beer! Try the Natte or Zatte)
👉 If your goal is to experience windmills—not just check a box—these locations offer far more depth.
De Adriaan Windmill – Haarlem (Must Visit)
Just a short trip from Amsterdam, De Adriaan in Haarlem is one of the most striking windmills in the Netherlands.
- Located right along the river in the historic city center
- Fully restored and open for guided tours
- Offers incredible views over Haarlem from the top
- Combines architecture, history, and a true working mill experience
👉 It’s one of the best places to actually understand a windmill, not just photograph one.
Other Amsterdam Windmills Worth Knowing About
Amsterdam still has several lesser-known historic windmills scattered across the city beyond the more famous tourist locations.
- De Otter — the last remaining wind-powered sawmill in Amsterdam, located near Amsterdam West and one of the city’s most historically significant industrial mills.
- D’Admiraal — a rare chalk and trass mill in Amsterdam Noord and the last remaining windmill of its kind in the Netherlands.
- Akermolen — a former historic polder mill along the western edge of Amsterdam, tucked beside quiet canals and bike paths that is now a restaurant.
- The Swan, Ouderkerk ann de Amstel. Private windmill along the Amstel River.
De Zwaan Windmill near Ouderkerk aan de Amstel
Together, these windmills reveal how deeply wind-powered industry and water management once shaped daily life across Amsterdam.
Windmills in Leiden (Easy 1 hour Trip from Amsterdam)
If you’re exploring beyond Amsterdam and Haarlem, Leiden in South Holland, Netherlands offers a pair of beautiful historic windmills that are easy to visit while wandering the city’s canals and old streets. Leiden is also one of our favorite cities in the Netherlands, with several must-visit locations including the Leiden Hortus Botanical Gardens, Pieterskerk — the 12th-century church with ties to the Pilgrims — and panoramic views from the historic Burcht van Leiden fortress walls. Our daughter also studied at the University of Leiden, making this beautiful Dutch city especially meaningful for our family!
Molen De Put in Leiden, South Holland
Located beside the water near Leiden’s historic city center, Molen De Put is one of the most photogenic urban windmills in the Netherlands. Rebuilt in 1987 after the original mill was lost centuries earlier, the windmill now stands beside the canal surrounded by classic Dutch reflections, bridges, gardens, and historic architecture. 👉 Website: http://www.molendeput.nl/
Molenmuseum De Valk in Leiden, South Holland
One of the best places in the Netherlands to actually step inside and understand how traditional Dutch windmills operated. Molenmuseum De Valk is a fully preserved seven-story windmill museum offering detailed exhibits, original machinery, and panoramic views across Leiden from the upper levels. 👉 Website: https://molenmuseumdevalk.nl/
Together, these two windmills make Leiden one of the easiest and most rewarding windmill day trips from Amsterdam — especially if you enjoy combining Dutch history, canals, museums, and photography into the same visit.
Where to Go for a More Authentic Windmill Experience
Aarlanderveen Windmill Molen
This is one of my favorite locations to visit during National Windmill Day!
- Four windmills in close proximity
- Nice friendly folks giving tours and information in Dutch and English
- Historic polder system where they talk through how they pumped water out of the polders
The coolest part – tractor rides between the windmills!! We hopped on a tractor and zoomed over the next 3 windmills! What a blast – I highly recommend this.
More details for why I recommend Aarlanderveen Molen:
- Multiple operating mills
- A quieter, more relaxed atmosphere
Schermerhorn near Alkmaar (North Holland) for Windmills
This is where the experience becomes personal.
It was here that I met Pieter and his dog—an unexpected moment that turned into a conversation about windmills, history, and daily life around them. It’s a reminder that these aren’t just structures—they’re part of a living system.
Bolwerksmolen, Deventer
A sawmill windmill in the eastern part of the Netherlands. Check the hours it is open as it is normally only open a few days of the week. One of the best places to see the inner workings of this rare type of windmill.
Other Notable Windmills beyond Amsterdam.
- Molen De Volksvriend - We discovered this historic flour mill near Eindhoven while driving through the countryside. The mill is often open for milling demonstrations and visitor access, but operating days and hours can vary. Be sure to check the official website before planning your visit.
- Bolwerksmolen – a traditional sawmill with strong industrial character
- Woudsend and Sloten – smaller towns with quieter landscapes
- Molen De Kaai – a subtle, character-filled windmill integrated into daily life
Kinderdijk Windmills near Rotterdam (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
While North Holland offers incredible windmill and tulip combinations, many visitors also recognize the famous windmills of Kinderdijk windmills (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)—one of the most iconic and photographed windmill landscapes in the Netherlands. Located near Rotterdam, Kinderdijk showcases a historic network of windmills designed for water management and is often considered the country’s most classic windmill scene. If you’re planning a broader windmill itinerary, it’s worth pairing lesser-known locations like these tulip fields with a visit to Kinderdijk for a deeper look into Dutch engineering and heritage.
Can You Go Inside Windmills?
Yes—many windmills open during National Windmill Day.
Depending on the location, you may:
- Walk inside
- Climb internal levels
- See wooden gears and mechanics in motion
👉 Not all windmills are open, but even closed mills with turning sails are worth visiting.
Types of Windmills in the Netherlands
Windmills vary widely in purpose and design.
By Function
- Polder mills (water management)
- Grain mills (flour production)
- Industrial mills (sawmills, oil mills)
By Structure
- Smock mills
- Tower mills
- Ground-sailer mills
- Post mills
Each type reflects a different role in shaping the Dutch landscape.
Tulips and Windmills 🌷
Tulips and windmills belong together—but timing doesn’t always cooperate. I’m always chasing that perfect overlap, and when it happens, it’s magic.
- Tulip season: mid-April to early May
- National Windmill Day: mid-May
Most years, they just miss each other. But what you get instead—late blooms, fresh green fields, and wide-open space—can be just as powerful.
👉 And when the light shows up… you don’t miss the tulips at all.
Planning Your Route for National Windmill Day and learning about the windmills
If you’re visiting multiple windmills, the best planning resource is Molens.nl
This allows you to:
- Find nearby windmills
- Check which are open
- Plan your route efficiently
Windmill Photography as Fine Art for Your Home or Office
A Dutch tulip field at sunset — bringing warmth, color, and a sense of calm into a modern interior.
The Dutch landscapes shaped by historic windmills, canals, and tulip fields translate naturally into fine art photography for homes, offices, healthcare spaces, and hospitality interiors. The balance of water, sky, architecture, and open space creates artwork that feels both peaceful and timeless.
These museum-quality fine art prints are especially popular in:
- Modern living spaces seeking warmth and openness
- Offices and conference spaces looking for a calmer atmosphere
- Healthcare and wellness interiors inspired by nature
- Hospitality environments celebrating European landscape design
As both the photographer and fine art printmaker, I personally produce each artwork in my Netherlands studio using professional Nikon camera systems, carefully capturing the natural light, atmosphere, and seasonal character that make the Dutch countryside so distinctive.
View Netherlands Fine Art Prints →
Bring the Netherlands Into Your Space
Discover museum-quality fine art prints of Dutch windmills, tulip fields, canals, and countryside landscapes—captured during exceptional moments of light, weather, and changing seasons across the Netherlands.
Final Thoughts
Windmills in the Netherlands are easy to find—but the most meaningful experiences come from where you go and how you approach them.
Skip the obvious when you can. Explore places that feel connected to daily life. Take time to step inside, ask questions, and observe how these structures still function today. I only have about 1100 windmills still to visit!
That’s where the experience shifts—and where the strongest impressions are made.
Get out and enjoy a windmill!
Frequently Asked Questions for Windmills in The Netherlands
What are the best windmills near Amsterdam?
Some of the best windmills near Amsterdam include Zaanse Schans, the Schermerhorn windmills in North Holland, the historic mills of Haarlem, and the Molenviergang of Aarlanderveen in South Holland. Many can be visited as easy day trips by car or train and offer excellent photography opportunities during spring and summer.
Can you go inside Dutch windmills?
Yes — many Dutch windmills are open to visitors, especially during weekends, museum hours, and National Windmill Day (Nationale Molendag). Some windmills operate as museums, while others are still functioning drainage or milling systems maintained by volunteer millers.
At the same time, many Dutch windmills are also private residences. Windmills such as De Riekermolen near Amsterdam and several of the Schermerhorn windmills in North Holland are still lived in today. If you visit, please be respectful of the residents, stay on public paths, and avoid entering private property unless the windmill is officially open to visitors.
One of the best ways to experience the inside of a traditional Dutch windmill is during guided tours or museum visits at places like Molenmuseum De Valk in Leiden or the Molen van Sloten near Amsterdam, where you can safely explore the machinery, living quarters, and water management systems that helped shape the Netherlands.
When is National Windmill Day in the Netherlands?
National Windmill Day (Nationale Molendag) takes place each year in May and is organized by De Hollandsche Molen. During the event, hundreds of windmills across the Netherlands open to the public with turning sails, demonstrations, guided tours, and opportunities to meet the millers who help preserve them.
In addition to National Windmill Day, many regions in the Netherlands host smaller local windmill days throughout the year.
Where are the best photography locations for windmills in the Netherlands?
Some of the most photogenic windmill locations in the Netherlands include Kinderdijk, Zaanse Schans, Schermerhorn, Aarlanderveen, Leiden, and the tulip fields near Alkmaar and Keukenhof during spring. Early morning and late afternoon often provide the best light and the fewest crowds for photography.
