Ah, windmills.
When I was planning my trip to the Netherlands, visiting the Dutch windmills was very high on my list.
I couldn’t put my fingers on why. Maybe it’s because I know very little about how windmills work. Maybe it’s more superficial, that I like the look of windmills as a backdrop in a rustic landscape. Or perhaps the reasons run deeper; that they remind me of the ingenuity of humankind to harness the power of nature to solve problems. Regardless, I knew the idyllic setting would make for a good place to ponder on the dichotomy of life.
Whatever the reason, I knew I had to visit the windmills. What was important to me was that we went out there to explore. We visited a less crowded wind (water) mill before visiting the more popular Zaanse Schans. The windmills are quaint and unique, just as I thought they would be.
Exploring the Windmills
![a windmills in the background](https://i1.wp.com/travelupdate.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_7307-e1563066973689-768x1024.jpg?resize=364%2C485&ssl=1)
![a diagram of a boat](https://i2.wp.com/travelupdate.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_7327-1024x768.jpg?resize=470%2C352&ssl=1)
![a sign on a building](https://i0.wp.com/travelupdate.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_7459-1024x768.jpg?resize=433%2C325&ssl=1)
![a group of windmills on a lake](https://i1.wp.com/travelupdate.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_7369-1024x768.jpg?resize=438%2C328&ssl=1)
![a wood wall with pictures and text](https://i2.wp.com/travelupdate.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_7417-1024x768.jpg?resize=427%2C321&ssl=1)
![a woodworking machine with a wood beam](https://i2.wp.com/travelupdate.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_7406-1024x768.jpg?resize=423%2C317&ssl=1)
![a wooden wheel with a red and blue stripe on it](https://i1.wp.com/travelupdate.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_7365-1024x768.jpg?resize=419%2C315&ssl=1)
![a wooden shed outside of a building](https://i2.wp.com/travelupdate.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_7402-1024x768.jpg?resize=425%2C319&ssl=1)
![a bridge over a river with people walking on it](https://i0.wp.com/travelupdate.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_7358-1024x768.jpg?resize=438%2C328&ssl=1)
If you find yourself in the Netherlands and you are looking for something relaxing to do, a stroll through Zaanse Schans is certainly a good way to spend an afternoon.
Have you visited the windmills, in the Netherlands or elsewhere? What have you found most interesting about them?