Kinderdijk Transportation

There's a boat tour leaving from Rotterdam centre to Kinderdijk.
Amsterdam-Rotterdam Central Station is an hour by train. Then take the metro (Erasmusline) direction Spijkenisse. 3rd stop is Leuvehaven from where the boat leaves.

For train schedules: www.ns.nl (English link at the top).
More information about the tour at the link below (in English).

The schedules for 2013 are not yet known. I am getting in touch with the boat company and will update this tip accordingly with their information.

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To get to Kinderdijk from Utrecht you need to take regional bus 90. The busstop is opposite the Beatrix theatre in Utrecht. You can buy your ticket on the bus or at the kiosk in Centraal Station. I suggest you get it on the bus rather.

You can easily arrive in Kinderdijk by taking the bus. I took a bus from Dordrecht, but I believe they also depart from Rotterdam.

The bus travel is long and a little boring, and the sights are not so good, but trust me, it's well worth it! Kinderdijk is an incredible place.

Kinderdijk is accessible by public transportation. The town is however only reachable by bus from either Rotterdam, Dordrecht or Utrecht train stations (and towns on the way to Kinderdijk of course). On the links page, you can find links to the train company (NS), subway (tube, metro, ...) company (RET) and Bus company (Arriva) for schedules and information.

Arriving from Amsterdam Schiphol airport, take the train to either Rotterdam or Utrecht. From Rotterdam take the subway to Rotterdam Zuidplein station and then the bus to Kinderdijk, busstop Molenkade. From Utrecht take the bus to Kinderdijk, bus stop Molenkade.

> Public transportation at a glance: (as per 24th April 2006)

Amsterdam Schiphol to Kinderdijk:
Train to Rotterdam Centraal, subway to Rotterdam Zuidplein, bus to Kinderdijk.
Rotterdam Airport to Kinderdijk:
Bus 33 to Rotterdam Centraal, subway to Rotterdam Zuidplein, bus to Kinderdijk.
Utrecht to Kinderdijk
Bus 154 direct
Rotterdam (Zuidplein) to Kinderdijk
Bus 154 direct
Dordrecht
Bus 251 direct

Bus schedule summary : ARRIVA BUS
Utrecht > Kinderdijk
bus 154
first bus : dep. 07:39 - arr. 09:06
duration : 1h27m
last bus : dep. 20:57 - arr. 22:15

Bus- Rotterdam Zuidplein > Kinderdijk
bus 154
first bus : dep. 07:02 - arr. 07:48
duration : 46m
last bus : dep. 23:40 - arr. 00:19

Bus Dordrecht - Kinderdijk
bus 251
first bus : dep. 13:24 - arr. 14:03*
duration : 39m
last bus : dep. 17:50 - arr. 18:31*

Bus Kinderdijk - Dordrecht
bus 251
first bus : dep. 07:13* - arr. 07:56
duration : 43m
last bus : dep. 08:48* - arr. 09:31

If you have a bike and you are able to visit this area on it, then this is the absolute best way to see this Dutch "monument valley" (okay, call it a polder). There are several routes leading to this place, but the most well-known is the ANWB "Steden-route".

Long distance walkingpaths are also having the Kinderdijk windmills in their programm.

Kinderdijk is surrounded by water. North of it the mainstream of the Rhine, here called the "Lek" and just West the wide waters of the "Noord". From Rotterdam there is a fast ferry going to the kays near Ridderkerk and from here one could take two busses to Kinderdijk (first to Alblasserdam, next to Kinderdijk). The windmills can be reached by foot from Alblasserdam as well.

There are touristic trips to Kinderdijk from many central touristic places in The Netherlands, but especially from nearby Rotterdam. From here in the high season (summertime) busloads of tourists are dropped for an hour or little more near the windmills to take a few shots and then hop in the bus back to the city.

Kinderdijk is only a off-ramp away from the freeway that runs between Arnhem/Nijmegen and Rotterdam (the East-West A15) and thus a short detour on travel through The Netherlands. Just follow the signs to Kinderdijk and an extra sign with windmills will appear.

1) Train to Rotterdam Central Station, 1 hour journey at €20.20
2) From the Roterdam Central station, take the Metro to Zuidplein (stamp 7 strips of the strippenkart - you will NOT have to pay for the bus 154 after this)
3) At Zuidplein, walk to the bus station (just below) and take bus 154 to Utrecht
4) Inform the driver you have stamp your fare at the Metro and arrive to the Kinderdijk Windmill in an hour.

There are only two ways to explore Kinderdijk: on foot or on Bicycle.

Most tourist just hop out of their car or bus, take a few pictures, visit one windmill and get back in their bus again.

I would advice to take your time and take a long walk or bikeride through the area. There are a lot of excellent bicycle paths and nature walking paths here. Get a route map at the local tourist office and GO!