The next day was our windmill day! I really wanted the kids to see the engineering of windmills and all the different things they are used for. Not only are they used for power, but they are used to grind flower, spices, press oils, saw wood...you name it.
The Netherlands is the windmill capital of Europe. Where we went that day, north of Amsterdam, there used to be 1000 windmills in maybe a 50km circumference Now there are only 30, but they have been preserved and are still in use today. A great place to learn all about windmills is Zaanse Schans!
Passing a windmill on our way to the museum's
Our first stop was at the wooden shoe factory.
It was fun to find out that these were not every day wear shoes. They were fancy shoes worn to church on Sunday's or to festivals.
Jack found his pair of wooden shoes right off.
That kid can sniff out anything sports related from a mile off!
The paths were lined with crushed sea shells. I think the girls had more fun finding sea shells then anything else. Cora even found a zebra striped one!
We toured two windmills.
the first (pictured above) was a spice mill. They were grinding cinnamon that day, it smelled heavenly!
Look at those roller stones!
The second mill we toured was an oil mill. They were pressing peanut oil that day.
It was a fascinating process to watch!
After a busy day of touring windmills, we needed a snack.
What better snack then a syrup waffle.
He would filet the waffel in half (look above, you see how thin that waffle is on his board...he filleted that in half!) Then a thick layer of warm caramel sauce is smeared in between the layers.
Heavenly!
We should have bought more!
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