Where can we photograph windmills at sunrise near Amsterdam, and what time do we leave?
Kinderdijk for the famous row and Zaanse Schans for the short morning. Kinderdijk's 19 mills line the polder canals about 1 h 26 from Amsterdam by car, and the dike paths can be walked before the ticketed mills open; at Zaanse Schans, about 20 minutes away, photographers shoot from the Zaandijk bank so the sun comes up behind the mills across the river. Sunrise is around 05:20 in late June and around 08:50 in late December, so pickup swings by three and a half hours with the season. For mills that actually turn, aim for National Mill Day, held on the second Saturday and Sunday of May, which in 2027 would be 8 and 9 May.
Last updated:
With a chauffeur by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €65 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €80 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €100 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
By the hour: minimum 2 hours, 40 km included per hour, starting and ending in the same city. The chauffeur waits between stops. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. During ADE week (pickups October 20 to 26, 2026) fixed ADE-week prices apply, shown before you book; promo codes cannot be used that week. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At an airport or an intercity station the first 60 minutes of waiting are free, elsewhere 15 minutes; after that waiting is charged per minute at the class's hourly rate (Business €65 an hour). Free cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup.
What is included in the price
- A fixed price confirmed at booking, with VAT included: no meter and no surge
- The chauffeur’s name, car and phone number before pickup, plus e-mail reminders 24 hours and 2 hours ahead
- Water and phone chargers (iOS and Android) in the car
- Status updates to the person who booked, if that is not the passenger: confirmed, chauffeur en route, guest in the car, arrived
Spots and pickup times
| Spot | Why | Drive | Pickup, late June | Pickup, late December |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zaanse Schans from Zaandijk | Mills against the sunrise across the Zaan | 20 minutes | 04:45 | 08:15 |
| Kinderdijk | The UNESCO row along the canals | 1 h 26 | 03:40 | 07:10 |
| Schermerhorn | Three mills in open polder | 40 minutes | 04:25 | 07:55 |
| De Adriaan, Haarlem | A mill over the Spaarne in town | 28 minutes | 04:35 | 08:05 |
Pickup times allow 15 minutes to set up before sunrise.
Booking around the weather
Clear dawns are hard to predict a week out. Book once the evening forecast looks right; bookings made within 12 hours of pickup carry a 10% short-notice supplement and nothing else. Three hours covers Zaanse Schans (€195 in Business Class); six hours covers Kinderdijk and breakfast (€390).
Related questions
Do the mills turn at sunrise?
Rarely; they turn when volunteer millers are working, so sails may be still at dawn.
Can I fly a drone?
Dutch drone rules are strict and much of the area around Schiphol is restricted; check the official drone map before you pack one.
Tulips and mills together?
In April, see early-morning Keukenhof photography.
Sources
- Kinderdijk (checked October 31, 2026)
- Rick Steves Forum: Windmills while in Amsterdam (checked October 31, 2026)
Book it, or ask dispatch first
Book online in a few minutes (no account, no app), or send your flight number and address on WhatsApp and dispatch replies in English, 24 hours a day.