The windmill remains a living symbol of Dutch civilisation. Besides a way of life built on agriculture and industry, it shows a nation's love of its heritage, and tourists from around the world, especially from Asia, are endlessly curious about it.

The country's land lies well below sea level, hence the name Netherlands. The windmill, a machine that makes power from the wind, is enough on its own to identify the country, and the tradition is 250 years old. The small village of Zaanse Schans, on the banks of the river Zaan, keeps memories of the Second World War alongside these traditions.

Helen Ruhe of the Dutch foreign ministry said that during the war targets were identified from above for air raids, so names and identifying words were written on roofs. That is why many Dutch roofs still carry names.

The huge sails are not all there is to a windmill. At its base is a real factory, where work goes on without pause, just as it did long ago. The mill operator, John, said this living witness of the industrial revolution shows how old the idea of renewable energy is. "Two hundred and fifty years ago, during the industrial revolution, people were already thinking about renewable energy," he said.

The sails turn above, and a huge stone wheel turns below, crushing lime and ochre stone. The powder is used to make paint and many other things, John said.

Asians are the most curious about this work. Saskia Bakx, communications officer at Zaanse Schans, said more than a million tourists come every year, 84 per cent of them from Asia. About 13,000 windmills were built here between the 17th and 19th centuries; 12 survive and are preserved as heritage.

Source: Shykh Seraj. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.