1996, The Mill Network at Kinderdijk- Elshout
(The Municipality of Nieuw-Lekkerland, Province of Zuid-Holland)
The Netherlands' unique contribution to water technology is demonstrated by the ‘Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout’ in the Alblasserwaard. Hydraulic works for draining land for agricultural purposes and habitation were first constructed here in the Middle Ages and this still continues today. The site comprises many typical components of this technology, such as dykes, ‘boezems’ (reservoirs), public works buildings and 19 drainage mills.

Motivation
The World Heritage Committee decided to inscribe the Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout on the World Heritage List by virtue of the criteria (i), (ii) and (iv). It established that the site is an outstanding man-made landscape. This landscape bears the powerful stamp of human ingenuity and determination over a period of almost 1000 years with respect to drainage of water and protection of the land by means of hydraulic engineering techniques.