Some time ago, before I broke my back, I stood beside the water near Kinderdijk on a beautiful spring evening. It was March 2026, and broad Dutch skies stretched above the Alblasserwaard landscape. One of the windmills was reflected softly in the water, together with parts of the sky. As the sun slowly descended, its light became warmer across the scene.
Two moments from the same evening
That evening, I took two landscape photographs of the Kinderdijk windmills. Both images show the same UNESCO World Heritage site, but each has its own atmosphere.
The first photograph has a cooler, bluish tone. The sun was still well above the horizon and the light was softer and more subdued. This gives the image a quiet, almost motionless feeling. The windmills stand firmly in the landscape, while the water and sky create a gentle reflection.
The second photograph was taken around sunset. The sun was slowly sinking diagonally behind me, bathing the landscape in warm, pinkish tones. The light changed constantly, making the atmosphere noticeably different within a short period of time.
A typically Dutch landscape
Together, the photographs tell the story of this evening. There was no dramatic weather or spectacular event, just calm, space and stillness. The windmills, water and sky create a simple scene that feels deeply connected to the Netherlands.
These moments make me happy. For me, landscape photography is not only about creating a beautiful image. It is also about being outdoors, observing, waiting and becoming fully immersed in the surroundings.
Finding my way back outdoors
Since my fall, my back still needs more time to recover. It can take a year to return to your previous level, and sometimes the body unfortunately never becomes exactly as it was before. I especially miss the mental side of photography: going out, discovering a place and capturing a landscape with my camera.
I hope to be able to make landscape photographs more often again soon. Until then, I enjoy looking back at evenings like this one at Kinderdijk.
Bring a piece of Kinderdijk home
Would you like to experience this peaceful evening among the windmills yourself? These images are available as a photo print or as a digital file. They can bring the Dutch skies, water and Kinderdijk windmills into your own space.
View more photos via the link, which, like this one, are part of my portfolio ‘Famous windmills’.