De Immigrant Windmill – Dutch Windmill in Fulton, Illinois

The De Immigrant Windmill in Fulton, Illinois, is an authentic Dutch Windmill that was manufactured and prefabricated in the Netherlands before being shipped and assembled in the American midwest. It is said to be one of only two Dutch windmills in the United States.

De Immigrant Windmill in Fulton, Illinois- Dutch Windmill in the United States. American Roadside Attraction.
De Immigrant Windmill in Fulton, Illinois- Dutch Windmill in the United States. An American Roadside Attraction.

Getting this structure from The Netherlands to Illinois was no small feat. After being built and disassembled in Holland, pieces were transported via ship, rail, and truck. Dutch millwrights and masons accompanied the shipment and were on hand to reassemble and install the structure once it made it to its destination in Fulton. The whole process took over ten months and, when finally finished, it was dedicated on May 6, 2000 during the Dutch Days Festival.

De Immigrant Windmill in Fulton, Illinois- Dutch Windmill in the United States. American Roadside Attraction.

The Dutch windmill in Fulton is a “beltmolen,” combining the Dutch words for “belt” (meaning mound of dirt) and “molen” (meaning mill). It stands at nearly 100 feet tall and constructed on top of a thirty-five foot tall base of solid wood beams.

De Immigrant Windmill in Fulton, Illinois- Dutch Windmill in the United States. American Roadside Attraction.

This Illinois roadside attraction isn’t just there for show: it’s a real working windmill that sits on the flood control dike off the Mississippi River. The entire head of the ninety-foot tall windmill can turn, the sails move by wind power, and the fully functional blue basalt millstones can produce a variety of flours.

De Immigrant Windmill in Fulton, Illinois- Dutch Windmill in the United States. American Roadside Attraction.

You can see the De Immigrant Windmill for yourself on your next Illinois road trip or Great River Road road trip. If you’re driving the Great River Road in Illinois, be sure to also make stops to see the Blues Brothers statue in Rock Island, the Legend of the Piasa Bird in Alton, and the statue of the world’s tallest man.

De Immigrant Windmill in Fulton, Illinois- Dutch Windmill in the United States. American Roadside Attraction.

De Immigrant Windmill

Location: 1000 1st St. (10th Ave. & 1st St.), Fulton IL 61252
Hours: Always visible.
Cost: Free to see. Donations accepted.


Pin this Illinois Roadside Attraction:

The De Immigrant Windmill in Fulton, Illinois, is an authentic Dutch Windmill. See this Illinois roadside attraction on a Great River Road road trip. Add it to your travel bucket list and Illinois road trip itinerary for a fun road tip stop for kids or adults.
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The De Immigrant Windmill in Fulton, Illinois, is an authentic Dutch Windmill. See this Illinois roadside attraction on a Great River Road road trip. Add it to your travel bucket list and Illinois road trip itinerary for a fun road tip stop for kids or adults.
The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

BY Valerie Bromann

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.

VALerie BROMANN

Founder & Head Road Tripper

Val is the founder and head road tripper at Silly America. Having grown up near Berwyn's famed car kabob, The Spindle, and a restaurant with a cow on its roof, her fascination with roadside attractions started early. Today, Val has visited hundreds roadside attractions across the United States and is constantly on the lookout for the next BIG thing!