A particularly explicit use of windmills that you saw in Holland as well as in some places in the remainder of Europe was pumping water. Remember that a large part of the land in the country is essentially below sea level, so water pumps would get quite a lot of use, particularly if a dike was breached.
It is not surprising, then, that it was also the Dutch who made so many refinements to windmill technology, especially to the big sails. The majority of these involved altering the shape, to make the sails more aerodynamic. When the cutting edge has a curve, like that at the front edge of an aeroplane wing, it provides more lift. And placing the middle of gravity of the sail and arm 25% of the distance back from the pioneering edge is another element that makes the sail better. These and other changes were implemented in Holland as the country made these windmills characteristically its own.
One might think that since the change over to other types of power, during and after the commercial Revolution, there would now be no more windmills in Holland. But that is not the case. There are still a few, perhaps one thousand or so, and all those are in working order. In truth, Holland doesn’t officially count a mill unless it is still serviceable, and programs of restoration recently have really increased the number. So while the big thrust for wind power these days is the tall wind turbine, some things remain for this more modest kind of windmill to do. Obviously, the Dutch tradition is so strong and so effective that the windmill of Holland has beaten the test of time.
When you visit the Netherlands, you have to certainly check out one of these mills. And in Amsterdam accommodation is available. Check this site to find comfy accommodation in Amsterdam.
