Pinterest pin 8 Best Activities during Illumination Week Event at UNESCO World Heritage Windmills of Kinderdijk

The UNESCO World Heritage Windmills of Kinderdijk

In the gorgeous wetlands around Dordrecht, 25 kilometers east of Rotterdam, stands nineteen historic windmills, constructed between 1738 and 1740. The windmills of Kinderdijk were built to pump water out of the low-lying Alblasserwaard polder situated at the confluence of the Lek and Noord rivers, thereby preventing floods in the region. Today, they symbolize centuries-old Dutch engineering for water management. In 1997, they were included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Windmills of Kinderdijk are one of the most photographed places in the Netherlands.

To know more about Kinderdijk and the best things to see and do there, please read our article First Timer’s Guide to Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Windmills of Kinderdijk | Tips on the Best Things to See and Do on a First Time Day Trip to Kinderdijk.

Illumination week at unesco world heritage kinderdijk rotterdam showcasing lit old windmills and wooden houses in zuid holland netherlands holland shot at sunset during golden hour

What is Kinderdijk Illumination Week?

The UNESCO World Heritage Windmills of Kinderdijk shine like bright beacons against the dark evening skies during Illumination Week (which happens every year around the first or second week of September), when they literally shine a spotlight on each of the nineteen mills. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for photographers looking for truly unique photographs. This year it will even be the 51st edition. During this week you can follow various workshops, visit windmills and go on a boat tour.

Dates and Opening Hours

Please find below the information on the dates and hours of the Kinderdijk Illumination Week -

Dates: From September 1 to September 9, 2023 (except Sunday, September 3). However, during the week there will be different events taking place on different days. For dates of the events, please refer to the ‘8 Best Activities at Kinderdijk during Illumination Week’ section below.
Hours: The windmill spotlights will be switched on around 20:30 (at sunset). But if you are going to take pictures, I would recommend you to go a bit earlier and set your tripod to ensure that you get the best position as from sunset onwards the best positions get crowded with photographers.

8 Best Activities at Kinderdijk during Illumination Week

1. Walk or cycle through the network of the UNESCO World Heritage Kinderdijk Windmills

Dates: All Week

The best way to see all the 19 UNESCO World Heritage Kinderdijk Windmills during Illumination Week is by taking a leisurely walk or by biking over the dike. And don’t forget to get your camera to capture the mesmerizing ambiance. You can hire a bike at the ‘Cafe De Klok’ (Molenstraat 117, 2961 AK Kinderdijk), around 500 meters from the entrance to the windmill area. If you are arriving from Alblasserdam (refer to the ‘Visiting Kinderdijk during Illumination Week’ section below), you can hire a bike from ‘Tourist Info Alblasserdam’ (Zuiderstek 1, 2952 AZ Alblasserdam).

2. Take the Illumination Week Boat Tour

Dates: All Week

During your visit, take a ride on the Illumination Week tour boat to have a close-up look at the lit windmills. It's ideal for taking some beautiful photos. The vistas are breathtaking. Order tickets online (refer to the ‘Visiting Kinderdijk during Illumination Week’ section below) to ensure that you will have a seat on the boat. The ticket comes with a drink coupon for the Kinderdijk cafe and an onboard host who will fill you up on Kinderdijk's history. Wheelchair access is available on the tour boats. Dogs must be kept on a leash.

3. Attend the Delta Concerts

Dates: 2nd September 2023

The Delta Concerts will take place at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Kinderdijk during Illumination Week after the grand success of its inaugural edition in 2022. The classical music program inspired by nature, water, and heritage will be held with the illuminated windmills in the background. To order tickets refer to the ‘Visiting Kinderdijk during Illumination Week’ section below.

4. Taste a brand new beer

Date: 6th September 2023

Find a novel way to revitalize yourself. On the above day, Huibert and Rick from the local brewery De Kinderdijkse Kater will be present on the terrace of the Kinderdijk cafe with a brand-new beer brewed especially for the 51st edition of Illumination Week. So don’t forget to give it a try. Cheers!

5. Take a tour of the ‘Blokweer’ museum windmill

Dates: 7th, 8th, and 9th September 2023

You must visit the Blokweer windmill on the above dates since not only the lighting in the mill will be changed, but also the super smoker will be turned on. The Blokweer mill is distinct from its Kinderdijk counterparts. It's also older, as evidenced by the fact that it was just unearthed in a dusty city archive with its original proof of purchase. This hollow-post mill was built in 1630, according to the official receipt, making it well over a century older than any other in Kinderdijk. The entire top section of this hollow-post structure can be turned to face the wind. From the outside, you can see how the water is moved by the scoop wheel. You can also appreciate why a couple of goats and a vegetable garden were so important to make ends meet back in the day in the yard. Enjoy a snack and a drink while hearing the miller's tales. Based on my earlier experience of visiting the Blokweer windmill I can safely say that you won’t regret it.

6. Visit the Molenmarkt (Mill Market)

Date: 8th September 2023

This year the renowned yearly Molenmarkt (Mill Market), which is put on by the volunteers of Playground Association 't Balkengat in Kinderdijk, will take place at Kinderdijk. Visit the stalls of the local vendors selling a variety of products between 17:00 and 22:00.

7. Go earlier on Windmill Day

Date: 9th September 2023

The annual Windmill Day, organized for the last 64 years, is the day when as many windmills as possible are made to operate together. It goes without saying that the sight of as many windmills spinning simultaneously is breathtaking. A wind force of 2-3 is necessary to get a mill working and enable it to continue operating throughout the day. This year, Windmill Day will be held on the last day of Illumination Week between 13:00 and 17:30. So it is a great opportunity for you to witness this spectacle by arriving a bit earlier for your Illumination Week visit.

8. Unwind and/or buy souvenirs at the Visitor’s Center

Dates: All Week

Princess Beatrix inaugurated the Visitor Center in 2019 which is part of the larger restoration of the Kinderdijk UNESCO World Heritage entry zone. There's a Giftshop on the ground floor with presents and (sustainable) products that represent the Netherlands and the Kinderdijk atmosphere. At the Kinderdijk-cafe, you can choose to unwind as you gaze out over the mills, relax with a cup of coffee, an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage, or a freshly made sandwich. When the weather is nice, the lovely outdoor patio overlooking the water is a great spot to relax. The restrooms are in the basement.

During Illumination Week, the Kinderdijk cafe and the gift shop inside the Visitor’s Center are open until 22:30 (from Monday to Thursday) and 23:00 (from Friday to Saturday). If you have purchased a ticket for the boat tour, show it at the Kinderdijk cafe to get a free drink.

Visiting Kinderdijk during Illumination Week

Trip map created with Wanderlog, the best trip planner app on iOS and Android

Bus: To reach Kinderdijk by bus, you need to take a train to the Rotterdam Centraal train station. From there you need to take the RET metro line A/B/C to the metro station Kralingse Zoom and thereafter the bus 489 to Kinderdijk. The bus 489 runs twice an hour, seven days a week. Check the timing of the buses on 9292.nl on the day of your journey to plan your travel.

Waterbus (Ferry): In my article First Timer’s Guide to Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Windmills of Kinderdijk | Tips on the Best Things to See and Do on a First Time Day Trip to Kinderdijk, I mentioned that the best way to visit Kinderdijk by public transport is by the waterbus (ferry). The first reason is that the route is scenic and the second is that you can carry your bike free of cost on the waterbus if you plan to bike at Kinderdijk on your own bike. However, since the last ferry back to Rotterdam departs around 17:00, so it is not suitable for traveling to Kinderdijk during Illumination Week unless you want to reach there in the afternoon and wait until sunset for the lights to be on.

Car: To me, the best way to visit Kinderdijk during Illumination Week is by car. The beauty of traveling by car is that you can reach anytime you want without having to worry about the timing of the last bus back home.

Parking: The official visit parking of Kinderdijk is 15 minutes bus ride away from Kinderdijk (Marineweg 3, Alblasserdam) available at a cost of €7.5 which you need to buy online. However, the shuttle bus runs between Kinderdijk and Alblasserdam's parking lot until 18:00. Therefore, if you are visiting Kinderdijk to witness the illuminated windmills, then this is not an option for you.

There is a small disabled parking lot near the Visitors Center (Nederwaard 1, Kinderdijk), where you are allowed to park at a cost of €9.5 during Illumination Week. Alternatively, you can park for free at the bigger parking lot of the Royal IHC shipyard (Smitweg 6, 2961 AW Kinderdijk), which is a 10-minute walk away. This’s where we usually park when we go to Kinderdijk by car. Normally this is open to the public only during the weekends, but for Illumination week it is open to the public all week but only from 17:00.

Tickets: The dike between the Kinderdijk windmills is free to walk/cycle. However, for Illumination Week Boat Tour and Delta Concerts, you need to buy entry tickets. To buy tickets for Illumination Week Boat Tour please visit tickets.kinderdijk.com/en/verlichtingsweek/tickets and to buy tickets for the Delta Concerts please visit kinderdijk.nl/evenementen/deltaconcerten-kinderdijk

Epilogue

So those were the 8 best activities at Kinderdijk during Illumination Week. Please let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed reading this article.

And if you want to know more about Kinderdijk and the best things to see and do there, please read our article First Timer’s Guide to Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Windmills of Kinderdijk | Tips on the Best Things to See and Do on a First Time Day Trip to Kinderdijk. Until then, merry traveling and happy shooting!