When you visit Kinderdijk, one of the most visited villages in the Netherlands, you step right into the middle of Dutch history.
Kinderdijk lies in the Alblasserwaard, where the Lek and Noord rivers meet together. Much of the village is near or even below sea level. Although there are canals and dykes (堤坝), the lowlands of the village are still at risk of flooding (洪灾). Among the most deadly floods was Saint Elisabeth’s flood in 1421, which killed thousands after the dykes broke in several places. To deal with this kind of problem, the Kinderdijk windmills (风车) were built around 1740 to move water from the lower areas to higher ground and into the river.
Nineteen of the 20 Kinderdijk windmills remain and were named a UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) Site in 1997. Of the 19 windmills, 16 still have millers who live inside and control the huge sails (翼板) in the wind. These windmills continue to help manage the Netherlands ongoing fight to stay above water.
For tourists, boat tours are offered along the canals and walkways lead from the visitor center to the windmills. Two windmills serve as museums, filled with old millers’ items and photos. You can climb up inside to see how the windmills work. The windmills also are working, so be prepared to feel the whole building shake when the sails turn in the wind.
Each year, about 500,000 people visit the Kinderdijk windmills and the buildings have become a must-see on any trip to the Netherlands. There are some windmills north of Amsterdam that “were built for tourists, but we’re a historical site where tourists come, so it’s the other way around,” says Kinderdijk communications manager Peter Paul Klapwijk. “Tourism is a good way to support our site.”
8. Why were the Kinderdijk windmills built around 1740?
A.To protect dykes. | B.To produce clean water. |
C.To prevent floods. | D.To keep the sea level from rising. |
9. What can we learn about Kinderdijk windmills?
A.Most of them are working as before. |
B.Most of them have become museums. |
C.Several of them have been sold to millers. |
D.Several of them were destroyed long ago. |
10. How does Peter Paul Klapwijk feel about so many tourists visiting the windmills?
A.Fearful. | B.Worried. | C.Excited. | D.Surprised. |
11. What does the text mainly introduce?
A.The history of Kinderdijk |
B.A famous historical site |
C.An amazing village of canals |
D.The traditions of the Netherlands |