Go Dutch & Cycle along the great Mills of Leiden – The Netherlands

Of course we have amazingly beautiful mills in the Netherlands, that’s what we are known for, right? You often no longer consciously look at these places because we have come to think of them as normal. To look at your surroundings with different eyes, it is good to go for a walk or a bicycle ride. This time I went cycling with my aunt along the most beautiful windmills of Leiden. We had fine weather and enjoyed every kilometre we cycled in this beautiful Dutch landscape.

The Netherlands has more to offer the Amsterdam! Explore Leiden and its surroudings and be amazed by the beauty of it!

Cycling along the mills of Leiden will lead you to the greatest spots!

In Leiden you can cycle a tour that leads you along the most prettiest ones and the oldest ones. And there are many of them in and near Leiden!

Go Dutch & Cycle along the great Mills of Leiden

It is a hefty hike and you can safely assume it could take you a whole day. We didn’t finish the trek. I cycled with my aunt who, at 75+ and with a headwind, thought it was pretty nice at one point. Me too I must admit!

My aunt lives in Oegstgeest and that is a small village near Leiden. The first mill we saw was in Oegstgeest near the shoppingmail De Lange Voort.

Wipmolen in Oegstgeest

This is a wooden Hollow Post Mill on a stone foot. It is situated north of the old village and in the former polder Oudenhof. The hollow post mill dates back to 1783. It has a prominent place in the park and it looks beautiful! I think when you come back when the trees are green you can get a beautiful shot without the apartments in the back 🙂

The Kikkermolen Oegstgeesterweg

This is the Kikkermolen between Oegstgeest and Leiden.

The Kikkermolen is a windmill on the Oegstgeesterweg in Leiden. The mill dates back to 1752 and was built for the purpose of draining the Kikkerpolder and replaced a mill that burned down in 1747.

We saw some very beautiful mills and even talked to a miller just outside Oegstgeest. He was busy making the cloths that go over the sails water repellent again and of course he told us passionately about his mill. He was a volunteer there and did a lot of work every year.

Some mills will be running at windy days. Isn’t it great to withness that?

Once there were 19 mills on the ramparts of Leiden. Leiden was surrounded by these mills and entering the city the first thing you saw were those mills. Those mills were wooden standard mills, you can recongize them on the tapered body with a rectangular mill house on top. In the 18th century these wooden mills were replaced by higher mills made of stone. The mills of Leiden were not only used to grind the corn they also were used for the famous textile industy of Leiden.

Along the way you cycle on beautiful paths and old brigdes. This one lead us through Leiderdorp.

Go Dutch & Cycle along the great Mills of Leiden – NL

The Rodenburgermolen aan de Kanaalweg – Leiden

Cycling on, we passed this beautiful spot. I briefly got the fantasy of living near such a beautiful mill in a little house. Or in the mill itself, how beautiful would that be?

Stevenhofjesmolen – Henriette Bosmanpad Leiden

Stevenhofjesmill, Veenwateringweg – Leiden

Maredijkmolen – Oegstgeesterweg

On the background you see the Mill called ‘De Herder’. It is the sawmill of Leiden. De Herder is only open for tourists every other year on Millday of Leiden. Every odd numbered year.

Cycling Route & Information

A few years ago, they established this route cycling past Leiden’s most beautiful windmills. It takes good reading and careful attention but then it works out fine. It is a beautiful route through the city, villages and countryside. What more could you want!

You pass a number of villages in the area and thus see quite a lot of Leiden and its surroundings. My aunt and I had a booklet with the description and together with google maps we got there 🙂

On the internet, I could not find the route we cycled but I did find another alternative that also passes many mills and beautiful views in the area. This one too is for a whole day out though, it is 36 km. You can find it if you search on: ‘Molenroute Leiden en Kagerplassen’.

I found it super to cycle through a different landscape than just your own. Take a day out and do bring something to eat and drink along the way. By no means everywhere you cycle past you can get something to drink or eat.

Tea House De Leidsehout

After we stopped the route and went back we went to Tea House De Leidsehout to drink some fresh Mint Tea. You can sit in this park and enjoy the view with a lot of animals. The Tea House is situated on the cityborders of Leiden and Oegstgeest.

Such a cute view during my fresh Mint Tea

Want to stay in Leiden?

To explore the surroundings of Leiden and see and feel the historical city with its canals you should defenitely stay overnight in Leiden.

Look at this great apartment in the authentic city centre of Leiden, it will give you unique views on the canals of this great city.

Or will you choose the hotel rembrandt also in the historical centre of Leiden.

Want to explore some more of The Netherlands?

Visit the historical starshaped cities of The Netherlands

Also visit the most famous Dutch UNESCO site – Mills of Kinderdijk

Hiking along the Dutch coast – Kustpad

Explore the Hanseatic City of Deventer

10 Things you NEED to Know About The Netherlands