Windmills have played a significant role in human history for thousands of years, tracing their origins back to ancient civilizations.

The ancient Greeks were among the first to harness the power of the wind, with the earliest surviving example being the Stone Tower windmill located north of the Nile River in Africa.

Based on existing written records, it is known that as early as 650 BC in ancient Greece, there was a resident named ABU who proposed using wind power for practical purposes. This innovative idea pleased his friend, who encouraged ABU to proceed with his experiment, ultimately leading to the creation of the windmill.

Following ABU’s invention, windmills rapidly gained popularity across ancient Greece. People were quick to adopt this new technology, and soon many windmills were erected throughout the region. The principle behind windmill rotation is straightforward: they utilize wind to produce mechanical rotation. To this day, one can still find many old and peculiar windmills scattered across Greece, serving as historical reminders of this early technological advancement.

By the 18th century, the use of windmills had reached its zenith globally. During this peak period, windmills were employed for a variety of purposes, including irrigation and drainage, milling grain, cutting wood, and sawing timber. These versatile machines were invaluable in an era that lacked modern engines and electrical power.

When discussing windmills, it is impossible not to mention the Netherlands, a country synonymous with these iconic structures. In the 17th century, the Netherlands led the European agricultural revolution, and the picturesque windmill-studded landscape bore testament to the ingenuity and determination of the Dutch people. This era marked a golden age for the Netherlands, placing it at the forefront of Europe.

The Dutch have a long-standing affection for windmills, which remain a potent symbol of their national culture. Even in today's highly modernized world, the Netherlands continues to maintain many of its historic windmills. Known as the "land of windmills," the Netherlands boasts an abundance of these structures, with the first windmill capable of generating power for human use invented by the Dutch in 1922. This invention cemented the windmill’s place as an enduring emblem of Dutch heritage.

Each year, the Netherlands celebrates "Windmill Day" in the second week of May. On this day, windmills across the country are set into motion, creating a unified, rotating display that honors their historical significance. The Netherlands' geographical position in the northwest of Europe, near the Atlantic Ocean, provides it with a maritime climate characterized by constant land and sea winds. This natural abundance of wind made windmills an ideal solution for a country that traditionally lacked sufficient water and power resources.

Windmills offer an environmentally friendly source of energy, harnessing natural wind power without producing pollution or depleting resources. Despite the advent of various modern energy sources, the Dutch continue to value their windmills. Although the Netherlands has evolved into a modern nation, it has remarkably preserved its ancient tradition of windmills, which symbolize its national identity.

At their peak, there were nearly 10,000 windmills in the Netherlands. However, the rise of other power technologies, such as the steam engine, internal combustion engine, and electric motor, rendered many windmills obsolete. Today, about a thousand windmills remain, primarily as historical landmarks scattered throughout the country.