In 1997 the World Heritage Committee decided to include the Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout on the World Heritage List on the basis of cultural criteria (1), (2) and (4).

According to these criteria cultural, world heritage must (1) represent a masterpiece of human creative genius; (2) exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design; and (4) be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates one or more significant stages in human history.

The following considerations applied when the Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout was inscribed. The Committee established that the site comprises a unique, man-made landscape. This landscape bears the hallmark of human ingenuity and determination in drainage and protection of the land by means of hydraulic techniques over a period of almost 1,000 years.