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| THE
NETHERLANDS AND BELGIUM 2006: Trip
Report |
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The ride to the outskirts
of Rotterdam was pleasant, but as
soon as we entered the outskirts we lost the signs.
We used
the sun to keep a roughly southerly bearing until we
reached the city center and then the river. More
by
luck than good judgment we joined the river at the
correct bridge and could re-join the signposted bicycle
route
to the small ferry that crosses the
river to Kinderdik.
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| Kinderdik
is famous for the many windmills that
power the drainage system. Large areas of the Netherlands
are below sea level. The land was originally swampy but
was drained by creating systems of canals. These canals
drained into the sea at low tide, gates stopped the water
flowing back at high tide. Over time the land consolidated
and the level dropped until it was below sea level, even
at low tide. The windmills were built to drive pumps
to
lift the water into channels that are high enough to
drain into the sea. |
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One of the operating
windmills was open for tour. Seen in the distance windmills
look serene, sails gently turning. Close up the sails
are massive. The tips travel at frightening
speed and only clear the ground by a foot or so.
Because the top rotates to allow the sails to face
into the wind windmills always have two doors. Walking
through the wrong door into the path of the sails would
be certain death.
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