Scenic Sailing – Kinderdijk

2 April, 2025

Another morning of scenic sailing on our way to Kinderdijk means plenty of time for breakfast and getting a head-start on packing. Fortunately we're going from the Hervor to a hotel in Amsterdam, so we don't have to concern ourselves with weight distribution among the suitcases. Our Viking experience has been so amazing we decided to plan another cruise and took advantage of the promotion offered to current passengers. If you haven't sailed with Viking, be prepared - their offer is outrageously attractive! Deposits are reasonable and payment terms are much more flexible than those offered online. The most difficult part of the process was figuring out which itinerary we wanted to choose.

We made a stop on the way to offload a group for an excursion before continuing downriver towards Kinderdijk. 

Kinderdijk

There's not much better way to relax than cruising along on a sunny day with a drink in your hand. It happened to be coffee, since we had an excursion planned later in the day.

The village of Kinderdijk is home to nineteen windmills surviving from 1738-1740. The area was declared a protected site in 1993 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

The windmills are still functional, but the area is not reliant upon them for water control. A series of electric  pumps now handle required pumping activities. 

Final sunset...

Our excursion included a ride aboard the Jantina, a 125-year-old vessel that has been restored to carry passengers to the Blokker Windmill. Viking contributed a significant portion of the funds required to make her seaworthy again. Our visit included a detailed tour from the Miller, a young lady who had just passed her final examination the week prior. She demonstrated the complete functionality of the windmill and showed us the (snug) living quarters as well. The weather was absolutely spectacular, just a little windy.

We departed Kinderdijk and enjoyed a bit more time relaxing in the lounge with drinks while reflecting on the amazing experience of the past week. We have definitely become fans of Viking River Cruises.