A Day I Had Been Waiting for All Year

By Dragos Varnav

Some photography days are planned for weeks. Others for months. This one had been in the back of my mind for almost a year.

Since my last visit to Kinderdijk, I had wanted to return during the famous illuminated windmill week, which is usually in the first week of September. Unfortunately, last year I missed it by just one day. Since then, I had promised myself that next time I would do it properly. So, when tickets for a photography tour became available, I booked one immediately.

A few days before the trip, the weather forecast was far from ideal. Rain, clouds, and very little sunshine. But the desire to go was much stronger than any forecast.

Sony 1 1/1250s f/6.3 600mm ISO1000 FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Diependal - Vogelkijkhut

The day started early with a plan that would work regardless of the weather. Since the group meeting at the UNESCO Kinderdijk site wasn't until 6:00 PM, I decided to spend a few hours at Vogelhut Diependaal, a place where there is almost always something interesting to see.

On the way there, the sky turned darker and the first drops of rain began to fall. Still, I had a feeling it was going to be a great day for photography. Sometimes you just know that a day is going to be special.

After a few enjoyable hours photographing the crane family that seems to return every year to nest there, I also spotted Common Snipe, Great Egrets, Wild Swans, countless Northern Lapwings, and plenty of ducks. Those few hours in the area were wonderful.

Sony 1 1/2000s f/6.3 600mm ISO1000 FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Before heading to Kinderdijk, I made my traditional stop at De Grauwe Gans - Vogelkijkhut Oostvaardersplassen. After all, how could I pass by without checking for White-tailed Eagles?

And what a stop it turned out to be.

The young eagles were practising their hunting skills, flying in from all directions and giving me opportunities for photographs I had only dreamed of. Close, dynamic, and full of action.

Sony 1 1/2000s f/6.3 600mm ISO1250 FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

I'm not usually superstitious, but that day I somehow felt that something special was about to happen. After a period of calm the show continued, and what followed became one of the most memorable White-tailed Eagle encounters I have ever experienced. Even without Kinderdijk, the day would already have been a success.

My original plan was to leave for Kinderdijk around 3:30 PM. However, the navigation app showed heavy traffic ahead, mainly caused by roadworks on part of the route. Not wanting to risk arriving late, I decided to leave earlier.

As I continued towards Kinderdijk, the sky slowly closed in. Dark clouds covered almost everything above me and heavy rain began to fall. From time to time, I checked the weather radar, hoping for a small break in the clouds. After all, I had been waiting an entire year for this evening, and I desperately hoped that my patience would not be in vain.

Sony 1 1/2000s f/6.3 600mm ISO1000 FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

When I arrived, I met the rest of the group. To be honest, almost nobody looked very optimistic. The weather was far from ideal, and the chances of getting the conditions we had hoped for seemed to be fading by the minute.

The tour was organized by Stichting Werelderfgoed Kinderdijk and Marijn, a landscape and nature photographer. At one point, he mentioned that there was still a chance the rain might let up after 8:00 PM. It wasn't much, but it was enough to motivate us to keep going.

Sony 1 8s f/8 66.7mm ISO320 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Art 019

Finally, we headed to the museum, where we had exclusive access that evening. The owner welcomed us with hot tea, coffee, and chocolate, which were very much appreciated after spending time outside in the rain. I almost forgot to mention that most of the 19 windmills on the site are still inhabited.

Standing together under umbrellas, discussing compositions and possible viewpoints, we slowly started losing hope. The Blue Hour, which lasts only about 35 minutes and occurs when the sun is several degrees below the horizon, seemed lost. For landscape photographers, it is often the defining moment of the evening, especially when artificial lights begin to glow against a deep blue sky.

Then, a little after 8:30 PM, something changed. The rain gradually stopped.

Sony 1 6s f/8 34.4mm ISO500 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Art 019

The windmills were already illuminated, and within moments tripods were being set up and cameras were clicking from every corner of the site. Everyone rushed to take advantage of the brief window of opportunity. The atmosphere had completely transformed.

The panorama was breathtaking.

After hours of uncertainty, standing there and watching the beautifully lit windmills reflected in the water felt almost unreal. The disappointment and doubts from earlier in the evening disappeared instantly. All that remained was pure enjoyment and gratitude that the long wait had finally paid off.

Sony 7M4 1/160s f/8 46.1mm ISO100 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Art 019

Photograph taken in September 2025

Completely captivated by the landscape and by the joy of knowing that my year-long wait had not been in vain, I managed to capture several photographs that I am very proud of. Some of those images are featured here on the blog page, while others can be found in my Landscape and Birds Gallery.

Looking back, I can honestly say that the trip to Kinderdijk was worth every bit of effort. Photographing the illuminated windmills was everything I had hoped for, but what made the day truly exceptional was combining it with birding. The encounters with cranes and, especially, the spectacular White-tailed Eagles transformed a successful photography trip into a day I will remember for a very long time.

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