Coatings from AkzoNobel preserve historic windmills

As part of the partnership with the Kinderdijk World Heritage Foundation, AkzoNobel's technical expertise and innovative coatings will be used to preserve the windmills and return them to their original colors. "Kinderdijk is unique and irreplaceable," explains Peter-Jan van Steenbergen, Director of the Kinderdijk World Heritage Foundation. "Our UNESCO site is a role model for the world, and only the best maintenance plans and products are good enough. We are therefore delighted to have agreed this partnership with AkzoNobel." The Kinderdijk windmills, considered by many to be a national treasure, have become a symbol of how the Dutch have mastered the art of smart and sustainable water management over the centuries. They are also a long-established tourist attraction, visited by more than 350,000 people every year.

Located about 15 kilometers east of Rotterdam, most of the 19 windmills are still inhabited, one family even for ten generations. In many ways, they embody the country's centuries-old struggle with water and show how the Netherlands has managed to survive below sea level for so long. "We are convinced that with our expertise in paint and our focus on sustainability, we can make a real difference in Kinderdijk," adds Kees-Jan Starrenburg, Country Director of AkzoNobel Netherlands. "I am proud that our products are being used at this beautiful UNESCO site, which underlines how important it is for us to preserve cultural heritage for future generations. "The six-year agreement builds on a relationship that AkzoNobel established with the Kinderdijk World Heritage Foundation in 2016. Kinderdijk is one of several UNESCO World Heritage sites where the company's coatings are used. These include La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, Westminster Abbey in London, UK, Göbekli Tepe in Turkey, Malacca in Malaysia and Ouro Preto in Brazil.