Riekermolen, an Amsterdam windmill

Do you like Alan’s atmospheric photo of an Amsterdam windmill? Did you know that this shot wasn’t planned? The lens fogged up when Alan pulled out the camera to photograph Riekermolen, a windmill near Amsterdam that dates from 1636. And It proves that sometimes a camera mishap can turn out better than you think.

We were being transported from Amsterdam to Utrect to meet our ship, the AmaWaterways Amacello for a Christmas cruise on the Rhine River. The journey included a scenic drive along the west side of the Amstel River. At Riekermolen, the bus pulled over for a brief stop to photograph the famous Amsterdam windmill, which is located on a portion of the river where Rembrandt enjoyed taking walks.

Alan’s fogged-up lens turned out to be a benefit on a cloudy, snowy December day when light conditions were not the best for photography. Cropping out a lens flare was the only processing necessary for this photo.

Have you visited the windmills near Amsterdam? Post a comment to share your experience. We think a bicycle tour would be a fun active travel choice.