A child-led introduction to Kinderdijk, Netherlands, suitable to support study of a European location at KS2.
The video
My name is Rhonaand I'm nine years old.
TRANSLATED:I live in Kinderdljkin the province of South Holland.It is only a small village but peoplecome here from all over the world.They come to see something special.It is something you will like.What people come to see arethe windmills.We have 19 windmills.Most of them stand along the canal.The canal is a drainage canal.Our windmills are usedto keep the land dry.If they didn't, the land would flood.The windmill is a symbolof the Netherlandsand it's really importantin the history of our country.What is special is that thewindmills are lived in.
Bjorn is putting on the sails.He is a miller.A miller is actually a wind catcher.Not many people in the worldknow how to do this.A miller needs to knowa lot about the weather.
Mr Vandenberg also lives here. He hasbeen a miller here for over 40 years.His children also know how tooperate the windmill,but I'm not sureif they will be millers.It's not easy to become a miller.It takes a long time to learn.What are you doing?
TRANSLATED:
Taking the brake off,so the windmill can start turning.Will you be working the windmilltomorrow? Yes, if there is wind.When the mill is running youcan hear the sails.They go really fast, just like thewind. It sounds a bit like this.
RHYTHMIC BREATHING
When you go inside, straightawayyou will see some big wheels.The sound of the mill cansend you to sleep.But a miller will know exactlyif there's a problemor if the wind stops or changes,just from the sound.
This is a windmill you can visit.You can see inside this oneand see how millers used to live.This is where the parentsused to sleep.This is the chamberpot.And these are the clocks people usedto wear. And some people still do.Here are some old clock bootsmillers used to wear.And some old ice skates.I'm going to live in a windmill soon.
This is our windmill.Rick is my brother, and he'shelping Dad do up our windmill.Our windmill is octagonal.My dad is very passionate aboutwindmills and keen to preserve them.Because the windmills are very old,they are an importantpart of Dutch history.We have to look after them otherwisewe lose a part of our history.
If you'd like to visit,that would be fine by me.It's great fun to live in a windmillbecause, well, yes,it's really rather beautiful.And it's also on the water.
Video summary
Kinderdijk is famous for its canals and windmills.
There are nineteen windmills in Kinderdijk run by millers. Donna, a 9-year-old girl, cycles along the drainage canals to meet a couple of the last remaining millers in the region.
They illustrate how the wind drives the sails on the windmill to grind the wheat and pump the water from the flat lands to prevent flooding.
Donna and her family are in the process of restoring an old windmill to create their new home.
She visits a restored windmill and points out artefacts that illustrate life in the past, including clogs.
This film was first broadcast as part of the series Living abroad.
Teacher Notes
Pupils can look at how windmills help them to live.
What is their main purpose?
Why do people wear clogs?
Where is Kinderdijk and why do the residents have a problem with flooding?
What is their main form of transport?
What other European countries are there and how do they compare with the Netherlands?
Pupils could create a European holiday database, giving details of currency, annual rainfall, average summer temperature, physical features, famous and historical places to visit and attractions.
From this they could compare the amount of rainfall and the need to have windmills.
This film is relevant for teaching Geography at KS2 in England and Wales and 2nd and 3rd level in Scotland. The National Curriculum for Geography at Key Stage 2 emphasises study of a European location and making comparisons with a location in the United Kingdom.
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