Day 23 - Tuesday , May 20, 2025 - Sailing toward Kinderdijk Netherlands

The ship atrium 

Barge traffic on the way to Kinderdijk

We left Cologne Germany at 10 pm last night and expect to arrive in Kinderdijk at about 2 pm.  

There's a guided tour of the windmills which I have done before in 2023.  I'll go ashore and stretch my legs and hit the gift shop because my suitcase isn't already bursting at the seams.

Much of the Nethetherlands is below sea level, like New Orleans. The windmills pump the rainwater into the canals and then depending upon the water levels and tide these windmills pump the water into the rivers when sluice gates are opened. 

The business / job of the Millers, keepig the windmills operating was quite a physicial challenge. It could take 2 hours to get the windmills set correctly for the wind, the wind could change, and they would have to do it all over. It was a job passed from generation to generation with the oldest inheriting. 

The windmills of Kinderdijk 

This was just floating. It was strange enough to take a picture 

When windmill power isn't sufficient to drain and pump the water, there's mechanical power

Our ship being refueled before heading to Amsterdam.

Then at about 6:45 pm, we sail to Amsterdam.  We will be docked near the Movenpick hotel which is a great dock location.  Wayne and I will take a taxi to our hotel and drop our luggage. 

I have a tour at 10:45 a.m. of the Anne Frank museum which I tried to do in 2023 unsuccessfully. I am really looking forward to it. Wayne has been in there already so he won't be joining me. In the afternoon, there's a chance we will take a canal cruise as believe it or not Lean has not done it and I have but will gladly take another canal cruise if possible. 

The rest of the day is a day of relaxation. We expect to leave the hotel the following morning at 7:30 a.m. for our trip to the airport. Our flight leaves at 11:00 a.m. and if all goes well, we expect to arrive in Phoenix at 5:10 pm.