Riekermolen, 17th-century windmill near Amstelpark, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Riekermolen is a wooden mill from the 17th century on the western bank of the Amstel River with traditional Dutch design features. The structure displays typical polder mill construction with working mechanisms and rotating sails.
Built in 1636, the mill was essential for draining low-lying land around the Amstel River. It played a key role in water management for the polder region during its active period.
The windmill connects to painter Rembrandt, who sketched it during his lifetime and linked it to art history. A statue of the artist now stands on the nearby field, marking this artistic connection.
The site is accessible by public transport or bicycle and sits near parkland. The best visiting time is May through September when the mill operates regularly.
It is one of Amsterdam's few still-operating water mills and shows how drainage systems worked long ago. Visitors can watch the machinery in action and understand how people managed water in this flat landscape.
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