Molenviergang Aarlanderveen

The Molenviergang Aarlanderveen is a system of four interconnected windmills in Alphen aan den Rijn. They work together to move water from land below sea level through different stages toward the Oude Rijn river.

The first three mills were built around 1786 to pump water from the polder. A fourth mill called Putmolen was added in 1801 to extract peat from the wet ground.

The four mills stand as symbols of Dutch water management, showing how communities have lived with water for centuries. You can see how these structures shape the landscape and fit into daily use of the polder.

Visit on windy days to see the mills operating and moving actively. The site is accessible from outside, with paths around the installations giving you good views from different angles.

This is the last fully working windmill system of its kind worldwide that moves water without machines or motors. Wind power alone drives all the pumping, a technique abandoned elsewhere long ago.

Location: Alphen aan den Rijn

GPS coordinates: 52.12222,4.71722

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:01