The windmill (de windmolen) is the most iconic symbol of the Netherlands. At their peak in the 17th century, around 9,000 windmills operated across the country — grinding grain, sawing wood, pumping water from polders, and processing materials like paper and oil. The Kinderdijk complex (19 windmills, UNESCO World Heritage Site) is the most visited site outside Amsterdam.
Windmill vocabulary: de molen (mill/windmill), de molenaar (miller), de wieken (sails/blades), de as (axle), het rad (wheel), het wiekenkruis (cross of sails), malen (to grind), pompen (to pump). Types of windmills: de poldermolen (polder mill — for pumping water), de korenmolen (grain mill), de houtzaagmolen (sawmill), de papiermolen (paper mill), de oliemolen (oil mill). There are still around 1,000 working windmills in the Netherlands.
Modern wind energy: the traditional molen has given way to the windturbine (wind turbine). The Netherlands is a European leader in offshore wind (offshore windenergie). Wind parks in the North Sea (Noordzee) generate significant electricity. The Dutch government has ambitious doelen (targets) for renewable energy. The word windmolen now refers to both traditional mills and modern turbines in conversation — context determines which is meant. The Netherlands even exports windmill expertise through organisations like the Dutch Windmill Association.