A Dutch Windmill

Card no 379 - Ruurd

 A Dutch Windmill

Country: Netherlands

Place:   Dordrecht

Received: 1^st February 2013

Distance: 334 miles

Travelled for: 6 days

 

A windmill is a machine that converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails.  Originally, windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history, the windmill machinery was adapted to many other industrial uses including pumping water, either for land drainage or to extract groundwater.

Of the 10,000 windmills in use in the Netherlands around 1850, about 1000 are still standing. Most of these are being run by volunteers, though some grist mills are still operating commercially. Many of the drainage mills have been appointed as backup to the modern pumping stations.