Marlies tells her story
Today 21st of Februari, on International Tourist Guide Day, we shine a spotlight on the people who take visitors into the world of Kinderdijk. One of these passionate guides is Marlies Breedvelt. She takes us into her world.
“As a young girl, I met my future husband at a campsite, where he had a summer job, and I spent the entire summer. My first encounter with Kinderdijk followed a few years later. My mother-in-law grew up as the daughter of a water miller in Bergambacht. Her stories about the miller’s life and the photo that always had a prominent place in the living room made me curious. When I first came here, I was immediately captivated by the beauty and history of the mills.”
Her fascination with the mills remained, and when she retired, she knew for sure: she wanted to become a guide in Kinderdijk. “I had always said: when I stop working, I will become a guide. It seemed wonderful to me to tell the story of Kinderdijk.” And so it happened: Marlies became a guide and feels completely at home.
A working day as a guide? “No day is the same,” Marlies laughs. “You have morning and afternoon shifts, but how the tour unfolds depends on the program, the day, the visitors, and the weather. The beauty of being a guide is that you are essentially a ‘voice-over’ for what people see. You don’t just show the way; you bring the landscape and history to life.”
During one of her tours, nature surprised her and her guests with a magical moment. “We were talking about starlings that fly around here in large flocks. I told my group: ‘Stay on the upper deck of the boat for a while, maybe you’ll see them.’ And right at that moment, a giant flock of starlings appeared and put on a beautiful aerial show. These are the extras you can’t plan but make a visit unforgettable.”
Why is a tourist guide indispensable? According to Marlies, it’s not just about facts but rather about the stories and the personal connection. “Visitors don’t necessarily remember how many cubic meters of water the mills pump out, but they do remember the anecdotes. Like the story of how I once skated the Molentocht, a grueling journey where I eventually had to be pushed because my legs froze up from the cold. These kinds of stories make it tangible and vivid.”
Marlies tells her story
Marlies encourages others to become guides. “Immerse yourself in the stories, talk to millers and volunteers. Visitors greatly appreciate personal stories. It is a wonderful profession in which you build a bridge between the past and the present.”
Curious about how a guide brings the story of Kinderdijk to life? Come by, be inspired, and experience the magic of this UNESCO World Heritage site through the eyes of a true expert!
