Kinderdijk
Kinderdijk is a village near Rotterdam, but is better known as the location of 19 old windmills, built in the 18th century. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Netherlands. It was one of my favorite stops on our tour. If the Rijksmuseum is a testament to Dutch pride in its Golden Age, Kinderdijk celebrates the tenacity, ingenuity, and persistence of the Dutch people in reclaiming their land and protecting it. As the popular saying goes, "God created Planet Earth, but the Dutch created Holland."
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Kinderdijk means "Children's Dyke." No one knows for sure how the name originated, but the most popular and charming story is that, in a large 15th century flood, a cradle was seen bobbing along in the water. A cat was hopping back and forth on the rim of the cradle, keeping it balanced as it floated. When the cradle was brought to shore, a sleeping infant was found inside, warm and dry.
