Royal Windmill

A Gentle Giant Perched on the Waterfront

What's more Dutch than a windmill? This remarkable tower dates back to 1734, when it was commissioned by the Prince of Orange, and sits like a sentinel on the shores of the star-shaped town of Willemstad. This is a unique opportunity to experience not only a national monument but also a very personal design project.

The home is made up of two parts, the mill (complete with its original parts) and a more modern wing. The windmill sits majestically above the small harbor of the historical town, looking out across the water. Interiors are an eclectic mix of traditional and playful, with stone paved floors, brick walls, high beamed ceilings, and wooden doors, and it has been personalized with vivid murals (both painted and tiled), cheeky animal lamps, an antique chandelier enclosed within a modern sphere, two pinball machines, and other quirky finds. 

The mill section of the house is delightfully round, with dramatic staircases leading from floor to floor, leading to the top level with its original mill mechanisms. Look up to see the huge wooden cogs. This is a home you'll never get tired of exploring.

This vacation home rental in the Netherlands has a large, professional kitchen, a lounge salon with a Willemstad history display and two pinball machines, a living room with 75in TV, a Finnish and infrared sauna for six, and a spa shower with body sprays.

Outside, there's a private, landscaped garden with dining table, barbecue and lounge areas, as well as a terrace that wraps around the windmill, offering great views of the town, the harbor and the landscape surrounding it – in every direction. When it comes to 360-degree views, this is the real deal.

AROUND

Willemstad lies on the Hollands Diep, near the Haringvliet and Volkerak. A star-shaped city with well-preserved fortifications, it has seven bastions, each of which is said to represent one of the provinces that came together in the 16th century to liberate the Netherlands from Spanish rule.  

It may be designated a city, but Willemstad has a population of around 3,000 residents, making it very accessible. For its size, it's remarkably vibrant with around 10 restaurants, one of which has a Michelin star. There is a grocery store two minutes' walk away from the windmill, and the town is easily reached on foot. 

This vacation home rental in the Netherlands is surrounded in woods, pastures and waterways that are great for exploring.

LOCATION

Willemstad, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. Nearest airport: Rotterdam (30 mins), Schiphol (60 mins).

BEST TIME TO VISIT: May to August for best weather.