Windmills are one of the most enduring symbols of the Netherlands, and Amsterdam is home to several of the country’s most historic and beautifully preserved examples.
These iconic structures played a vital role in shaping the Dutch landscape, draining polders, powering local industries, sawing timber for shipbuilding, grinding grain, and helping Amsterdam flourish during the Dutch Golden Age.
Over the centuries, many of the original city mills were dismantled due to urban development.
However, six historic windmills still stand proudly within Amsterdam, and dozens more can be found in the surrounding region, including world-famous sites like Zaanse Schans and Kinderdijk.
This guide covers every windmill inside Amsterdam, plus the most important windmills around the city, their history, architecture, functions, opening times, and how to visit them today.
Table of Contents
How Many Windmills Are in Amsterdam?
There are six historic windmills located within Amsterdam City:
- De Gooyer Windmill
- Molen van Sloten
- De Bloem
- De Otter
- Riekermolen
- D’Admiraal Windmill
Each one tells a unique story about Amsterdam’s relationship with water, trade, and early industry.
A Short History of Dutch Windmills
Before diving into the list, here’s why windmills were so essential:
Dutch Water Management
The Netherlands lies mostly below sea level. Windmills drained polders, pumped water out of reclaimed land, and kept the soil stable for agriculture and settlement.
Industrial Revolution Before Steam Engines
Windmills powered:
- sawmills
- oil mills
- flour mills
- chalk mills
- paint and spice mills
Amsterdam alone once had over 26 sawmills, producing timber for the VOC shipyards.
Types of Dutch Windmills
You will encounter several types:
- Polder mill – pumps water
- Smock mill – tall wooden design, common for corn milling
- Paltrok mill – sawmills with open wooden frames
- Tower mill – built of stone, very strong
- Peeling mill – used to hull barley or rice
Windmills in Amsterdam City
1. De Gooyer Windmill (1725)
Tallest wooden windmill in the Netherlands • Former corn mill • Landmark near city centre
The De Gooyer Windmill is Amsterdam’s most famous windmill and the tallest wooden mill in the Netherlands.
Built in 1725, it originally served as a corn mill. The mill was damaged in a storm in 1972 but restored to working condition in 1976.
Today, it is technically functional but not used for daily milling operations.
Right beside the mill stands the popular Brouwerij ’t IJ, a craft brewery offering tastings, brewery tours, and outdoor seating with one of the most iconic views in the city.
Although the mill is not open for public tours, its impressive structure makes it a must-see landmark.
📍 Location: Funenkade 5, 1018 AL Amsterdam
Easily accessible by tram, bus, bike, or on foot from the centre.
2. Molen van Sloten (1847)
Fully operational drainage mill • Guided tours • Rembrandt exhibition
Located in the village-like district of Sloten, the Molen van Sloten is a working polder mill that pumps water from the surrounding lowlands.
Reconstructed in 1847, it remains one of Amsterdam’s few fully functioning windmills.
Visitors can explore:
- an audiovisual presentation about Rembrandt
- exhibitions on Amsterdam’s water management
- guided tours demonstrating real polder drainage mechanisms
📍 Location: Akersluis 10, 1066 EZ Amsterdam
Reachable via tram or bus.
3. De Bloem (1768 / moved 1878)
Historic flour mill • Open only on National Windmill Day
Originally built on the Bloemgracht in the Jordaan district, De Bloem is an 18th-century corn mill relocated in 1878 to its current windy location.
Today, it serves as an office space and is open to the public only once per year during National Windmill Day.
📍 Location: Haarlemmerweg 465, 1055 PK Amsterdam
4. De Otter (1631)
Oldest unchanged windmill in Amsterdam • Paltrok sawmill
Built in 1631, De Otter is Amsterdam’s oldest windmill that still stands in its original location.
It is a rare paltrok sawmill, a type once essential to the city’s booming shipbuilding industry.
The mill was restored in the 1990s and returned to operation in 2019, although modern buildings now obstruct much of its airflow. A long-running legal dispute has prevented its relocation.
📍 Location: Gillis van Ledenberchstraat 78, 1052 VK Amsterdam
Reachable by walking or cycling.
5. Riekermolen (1636 / moved 1960s)
Historic drainage mill • Rembrandt statue nearby
Originally located in Sloten and built in 1636, the Riekermolen was moved to its current spot on the Amstel in the 1960s. It still occasionally operates on summer weekends.
A statue of Rembrandt van Rijn stands beside the mill, marking the area where he sketched many pastoral scenes.
📍 Location: De Borcht, Amsterdam (Amstelpark)
6. D’Admiraal (1792)
Only chalk-and-trass mill in the Netherlands • Still operational
Built in 1792, D’Admiraal is the last surviving chalk-and-trass mill in the Netherlands. It ground volcanic stone for mortar and later chalk.
Today, it still operates a few times per year and offers free entry on selected Saturdays in summer.
📍 Location: Noordhollandschkanaaldijk 21, 1034 ZL Amsterdam
Windmills Around Amsterdam
Some of the most spectacular Dutch windmills lie just outside Amsterdam.
Below are the best ones to visit.
1. Windmills at the Zaanse Schans
The Zaanse Schans is a historic area near Amsterdam with traditional Dutch windmills.
They showcase the country’s industrial heritage and were historically used for tasks like grinding, sawing, and pumping water.
Visitors can explore these iconic windmills and learn about their significance.
The eight windmills in Zaanse Schans are listed below.
- De Huisman (The Houseman) – A mustard mill
- De Kat (The Cat) – A sawmill
- De Zoeker (The Seeker) – An oil mill
- Het Jonge Schaap (The Young Sheep) – A sawmill
- De Gekroonde Poelenburg (The Crowned Poelenburg) – A sawmill
- De Bonte Hen (The Spotted Hen) – A sawmill
- De Os (The Ox) – An oil mill
- De Schoolmeester (The Schoolmaster) – A painting mill
Apart from windmills, visitors can explore a bakery museum, a Dutch clock museum, and other attractions.
Zaanse Schans is a year-round destination, but most windmills are open to visitors from April to October.
It’s an excellent day trip from Amsterdam, with a Zaanse Schans Card available for access to most attractions.
Zaanse Schans Windmills Location
Windmills at the Zaanse Schans are located in Zaandam, around 15 km north of Amsterdam.
You can get there by taking a train to Zaandijk-Zaanse Schans Station, then walking for about 15 minutes.
2. The Keukenhof Windmill
The Keukenhof Windmill is a tower mill located in Keukenhof, Lisse, Netherlands.
Initially built in 1892 as a polder mill in Scharmer, it was gifted to Keukenhof by the Holland-America Line in 1957.
Today, the windmill serves as a decorative element and offers a stunning view of the tulip fields and the park.
While it may not provide in-depth information about windmills in general, the Keukenhof Windmill adds to the charm of the world’s most extensive tulip garden.
The Keukenhof Windmill Location
The Keukenhof Windmill is in Lisse, about 40 km from Amsterdam. You can take a bus directly to the gardens during the open season.
3. Katwoude Windmill
The Katwoude Windmill, also known as the Kathammer, is a polder windmill located in the Achterdichting neighborhood of Katwoude village, near Volendam.
Its primary function is to power the local drainage system.
Visitors can enjoy a half-hour guided tour led by miller Roel, who explains the mill’s history and operation.
The windmill’s interior can be visited under supervision, with an opportunity to ask questions.
It’s open between April 1st and October 31st, and visits should be scheduled by appointment.
Katwoude Windmill Location
Katwoude Windmill is located in Katwoude. You can reach this one by taking a bus from Amsterdam.
4. Korenmolen De Leeuw
Korenmolen De Leeuw is a 150-year-old windmill located on Molenplein in Aalsmeer-Centrum, dating back to 1547 and standing at a height of eight meters.
It is open to the public on Tuesday and Saturday afternoons, and visitors can also explore it digitally through the website seven days a week.
The mill has a shop where visitors can purchase various types of flour, kernels, seeds, and mixes for cakes or pancakes during opening hours.
Korenmolen De Leeuw Location
Korenmolen De Leeuw is located at Zijdstraat 28, 1431 EE Aalsmeer. You may reach it by bus from Amsterdam.
5. De Zandhaas
De Zandhaas is an octagonal tower mill, originally built in 1779 and named ‘De Santhaes.’
It underwent restoration in 1964 and 1996, ensuring its preservation for the future.
Visitors can explore the mill’s shop at the base, featuring a classic interior dating back to around 1900, which was formerly part of a spice shop near De Zandhaas.
The mill’s shop now specialises in bread and baking products.
Guided tours of the mill are usually conducted in Dutch, but arrangements can be made for tours in other languages.
The mill and its associated stores are open from Thursday to Saturday, 10:00 to 17:00.
De Zandhaas Location
De Zandhaas is located at Wüstelaan 83, 2071 AD Santpoort-Noord. A train to Santpoort-Noord and a short walk will get you there.
6. Water Mill 1200 Roe
Water Mill 1200 Roe is an octagonal windmill that originally served the purpose of draining the Osdorperbinnenpolder swamp area in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
It fulfilled this function until around 1950, when it became unnecessary.
Currently owned by the city of Amsterdam, Water Mill 1200 Roe is permanently inhabited.
Water Mill 1200 Roe Location
Water Mill 1200 Roe is located at Spaarndammerdijk 1200, 1014 AD Amsterdam. Accessible by bike or bus.
7. Molen De Koker
De Koker, also known as De Zwarte Hengst (The Black Stallion), is the only surviving flour mill in the village of Oosteinde.
It underwent extensive repairs due to storm damage and two fires in 1840 and about 25 years later, but it stands strong today.
De Koker serves as both a flour mill and a peeling mill. In 1928, it fell into disuse, but later, in a dilapidated state, it was restored by De Zaansche Molen.
Notably, until the late 19th century, the mill received its grain supply through a boat that sailed directly into it.
Molen De Koker Location
Molen De Koker is located at Westdijk 46, 1847 LH Zuidschermer. It’s advisable to travel by car, or you could take a train and bike the rest of the way.
8. Molen Het Prinsenhof
Molen Het Prinsenhof is one of the last peeling mills in the Netherlands. Built in 1722, it was initially used exclusively for hulling barley for 178 years.
Later, it switched to processing coffee pods, and during the First World War, it ground sawdust into wood flour for linoleum manufacture until 1954.
In 1961, the mill was acquired by the Association De Zaansche Molen. After a major restoration in the 1970s, it resumed peeling barley.
It also husked rice until mechanisation led to its production in rice-growing countries.
Today, Het Prinsenhof windmill still produces real pearl barley.
Molen Het Prinsenhof Location
Molen Het Prinsenhof is located at Westvest 52, 2611 AZ Delft. A train to Delft Station, followed by a short walk, is a convenient way to visit.
9. Molen Het Pink
Molen Het Pink has a diverse history, initially a sawmill in 1620, and later confirmed as an oil mill.
It became part of De Zaansche Molen in 1939, and Frans Mars painted the famous “Molenpanorama” there.
Now, it stands as a cherished landmark at Zaanse Schans.
Molen Het Pink Location
Molen Het Pink is located at Oosterdijk 12, 1671 HJ Medemblik. You can get there by train to Medemblik and then a walk or bike ride.
10. Molen De Bleeke Dood
“De Bleeke Dood” was a flour mill in Zaandijk that operated from the 17th century until 1904. Over time, it deteriorated, losing its sails, tail, and gallery.
In the 1950s, restoration efforts began, and by 1954, the mill was restored to its former glory, becoming a significant monument to Zaandijk’s history.
In 2001, another renovation took place, preserving the mill’s historical value. Today, “De Bleeke Dood” stands as a captivating reminder of the village’s past.
Molen De Bleeke Dood Location
Molen De Bleeke Dood is located at Lagedijk 4, 1544 BB Zaandijk. Reachable by train to Zaandijk-Zaanse Schans and a short walk.
Amsterdam Windmill Tours
Visitors can explore Amsterdam’s windmills through:
Half-day guided tours
It often includes Zaanse Schans, cheese farms, and wooden shoe demonstrations.
Full-day countryside tours
Combine windmills with Edam, Volendam, Marken, or the tulip fields (in season).
Bike tours
Cycle along the Amstel River to Riekermolen or explore Waterland’s rural landscape.
Best Time to Visit Windmills
- April–October: Most mills open, ideal weather
- April–May: Tulip fields in bloom around Keukenhof
- Second weekend of May: National Windmill Day (many mills open freely)
Which is the most popular Windmill in Amsterdam?
The most popular in Amsterdam is De Gooyer Windmill. It’s the tallest wooden windmill in the Netherlands, located near the city centre, making it a recognisable landmark.
Adjacent to the windmill is the popular Brouwerij ‘t IJ, a brewery that often attracts visitors.
While De Gooyer may not be open to the public for interior tours, its prominence and convenient location contribute to its popularity among both tourists and locals.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many windmills are in Amsterdam?
There are six historic windmills within Amsterdam city limits.
2. Which is the most famous windmill in Amsterdam?
De Gooyer is the tallest wooden windmill in the Netherlands.
3. Can you go inside Amsterdam’s windmills?
Yes, Molen van Sloten and D’Admiraal offer inside visits. Others are view-only.
4. What is the oldest windmill in Amsterdam?
De Otter, built in 1631.
5. Are the windmills still working?
Some, like Molen van Sloten, D’Admiraal, and mills in Zaanse Schans, still operate.
6. What is a polder mill?
A windmill designed to pump water out of low-lying land to keep polders dry.
7. Is Kinderdijk near Amsterdam?
Kinderdijk is about 95 km from Amsterdam and can be reached as a full-day trip.
Explore More of Amsterdam’s Nature
After visiting Amsterdam’s iconic windmills, why not continue your outdoor adventure?
The city is full of beautiful green spaces, historic parks, and peaceful nature areas perfect for relaxing walks, cycling, and sightseeing.
Discover the 15 Best Parks in Amsterdam.