How to Plan Your Visit During Illumination Week

Practical information for your evening in Kinderdijk

From Monday, September 7 through Saturday, September 12, experience Illumination Week in Kinderdijk. The windmills are illuminated every evening from 8:15 PM. Plan ahead by choosing your route and parking location, book your tickets in advance, and bring your own light if you plan to walk through the area. Use this practical information to make the most of your evening.

Parking during Illumination Week

Are you arriving by car? From 5:30 PM, you can park for free at the IHC parking lot (address: Smitweg 6, Kinderdijk). From there, it is about a ten minute walk to the entrance of Kinderdijk UNESCO World Heritage.

You can also park next to the Visitor Center for €9.75 per car (address: Nederwaard 1b, Kinderdijk). Parking spaces cannot be reserved in advance and availability is limited. A parking attendant will be there to assist you.

Are you arriving by bike? There is plenty of bicycle parking next to the Visitor Center (address: Nederwaard 1b, Kinderdijk).

Check your journey in advance

Traveling by public transportation? Make sure to check your return journey before visiting Illumination Week. The WaterShuttle does not operate in the evening during Illumination Week. The last WaterShuttle from Kinderdijk to Rotterdam departs at 5:55 PM.

The shuttle bus to the Transferium in Alblasserdam also does not operate in the evening. The last bus leaves Kinderdijk at 5:45 PM.

Bring your own light

The windmills and some walking paths are illuminated, but certain areas can be dark. If you plan to walk through the area, bring a flashlight or another light source. This will help you see where you are going and make you more visible to cyclists and other visitors on shared paths.

If you are taking part in an activity, you do not need to bring your own light.

Get your tickets before you go

Tickets for Illumination Week activities can be purchased online in advance. Subject to availability, tickets can also be purchased at the Visitor Center ticket desk.

If you only want to visit Nederwaard Museum Mill, tickets are available exclusively at the museum mill ticket desk. From Wednesday through Saturday, admission to Nederwaard Museum Mill is included with your Hopper or Cruiser boat tour ticket.

Tip: Bring your Illumination Week ticket to the Kinderdijk-Café and receive 10% off everything!

Follow the rules

When visiting Kinderdijk during Illumination Week, there are a few important rules to follow. Flying drones over Kinderdijk UNESCO World Heritage is not permitted.

If you come to Kinderdijk with your own boat or SUP, make sure you are clearly visible with proper lighting and follow all applicable boating regulations. Do not moor at the docks of inhabited windmills.

Kinderdijk is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also a protected Natura 2000 area. Please keep noise to a minimum and avoid disturbing the natural environment.