What you need for National Windmill Day

A National Windmill Day open house needs more than coffee and signs. Visitors may arrive in waves, wait for guided tours and stay longer if there is music or a children’s activity. Use this shopping list to prepare refreshments, serving equipment, seating, shelter and basic event equipment before opening day. Check quantities against your registration numbers, expected walk-ins and the length of the programme, then arrange borrowed or hired items at least one week ahead.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Foldable tablesqty 8
High tablesqty 4
Folding chairsqty 60
Beer tablesqty 6
Bar stoolsqty 12
Coat racksqty 2

Tableware

Coffee cupsqty 80
Glassesqty 120
Platesqty 100
Forksqty 100
Knivesqty 100
Spoonsqty 100
Serving spoonsqty 12
Serving traysqty 8
Coffee potsqty 4
Teapotsqty 3

Kitchen

Coolersqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 6
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 4
Scissorsqty 4
Measuring cupsqty 3
Serving tongsqty 8
Mixing bowlsqty 6
Food warmersqty 4

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 3
Kettlesqty 3
Refrigeratorsqty 2
Mobile speakersqty 2
Microphonesqty 2
Card machinesqty 2
Power stripsqty 8
Extension cordsqty 8
Flashlightsqty 4

Lighting

String lightsqty 8
LED lanternsqty 10
LED spotlightsqty 4

Decorations

Buntingqty 10
Dutch flagsqty 4
Windmill postersqty 12
Tableclothsqty 12
Chalkboardsqty 8
Name badgesqty 40
Directional signsqty 12
Info displaysqty 6

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 8
Mopsqty 4
Bucketsqty 4
Broom setsqty 4
Dustpan and brushqty 4
Cleaning glovesqty 8

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 8 packs
- Tea selection - 6 boxes
- Sugar - 3 kilograms
- Sweetener - 2 boxes
- Semi-skimmed milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Lemons - 2 kilograms
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Iced tea - 8 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Spa Rood - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Beer - 8 crates
- Alcohol-free beer - 2 crates
- Red wine - 12 bottles
- White wine - 12 bottles
- Sparkling wine - 4 bottles
- Ice cubes - 20 kilograms
- Sugar waffles - 120 pieces
- Apple pie - 8 pies
- Whipped cream - 12 cans
- Unsalted butter - 2 kilograms
- Sandwiches - 180 pieces
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- Young cheese - 4 kilograms
- Aged cheese - 3 kilograms
- Ham - 2 kilograms
- Chicken breast slices - 2 kilograms
- Hummus - 12 tubs
- Cream cheese - 12 tubs
- Peanut butter - 4 jars
- Strawberry jam - 4 jars
- Herb butter - 12 tubs
- Cucumbers - 12 pieces
- Tomatoes - 4 kilogram
- Lettuce - 8 heads
- Peppers - 3 kilograms
- Carrots - 3 kilogram
- Grapes - 4 kilograms
- Apples - 6 kilogram
- Bananas - 4 kilogram
- Paprika chips - 12 bags
- Plain chips - 12 bags
- Tortilla chips - 8 bags
- Snack mix - 8 bags
- Olives - 8 jars
- Pickles - 6 jars
- Ketchup - 4 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 4 bottles
- Mustard - 3 jars
- Barbecue sauce - 3 bottles
- Salt - 2 packs
- Pepper - 2 jars
- Paprika powder - 2 jars
- Garlic powder - 2 jars
- Oil - 3 liters
- Vinegar - 2 bottles
- Napkins - 1000 pieces
- Paper cups - 300 pieces
- Paper plates - 300 pieces
- Wooden stirrers - 500 pieces
- Wooden forks - 300 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 3 rolls
- Cling film - 3 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 100 pieces
- Organic waste bags - 30 pieces
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 60 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Toilet cleaner - 3 bottles
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Hand soap - 6 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 6 bottles
- Paper towels - 12 packs
- Bandages - 4 boxes
- Cold packs - 6 pcs
- Disposable gloves - 200 pieces
- Tape - 8 rolls
- Rope - 4 rolls
- Markers - 6 sets
- Colored pencils - 6 sets
- Coloring pages - 150 pieces
- Paper - 10 packs
- Wristbands - 300 pieces

Tips

Plan around visitor waves rather than one meal sitting. For the first hour, allow two to three drinks per visitor, then add extra coffee, tea and water for guided-tour groups that finish at the same time.
Provide roughly one cup, glass, plate and set of cutlery per expected visitor, plus at least 10% extra. Open-house events often bring unregistered visitors, and replacements are easy to forget once serving starts.
Keep refreshments in separate service points if possible: coffee and tea near the seating, chilled drinks in coolers or refrigerators, and food on serving trays or warmers. This prevents queues from blocking the entrance or tour meeting point.
Prepare for rain before the forecast becomes reliable. Arrange party tents, tables and seating early, and make sure extension cords, speakers and coffee equipment can be kept dry and away from visitor routes.
Do not leave small service items until the final shopping trip. Serving spoons, tongs, trays, thermos flasks, cutting boards and scissors are commonly missed, yet the food and drink cannot be served smoothly without them.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to buy for National Windmill Day?: Plan refreshments, cups, glasses, plates and cutlery, plus tables, chairs and shelter for visitors. You may also need coffee machines, kettles, coolers or refrigerators, serving equipment, mobile speakers and weather protection.
How many cups and glasses do I need for a windmill open day?: Start with one cup and one glass per expected visitor, then add at least 10% spare. For 100 visitors, that means at least 110 cups and 110 glasses if both drinks will be served.
How much coffee and tea should I provide for National Windmill Day?: For a three-hour programme, allow about two hot drinks per visitor, with extra capacity for volunteers and tour guides. For 100 visitors, prepare for roughly 200 servings and keep some in thermos flasks for busy periods.
When should I arrange tents, tables and event equipment?: Confirm hired or borrowed equipment at least one week before National Windmill Day. Check delivery, power requirements and storage two to three days beforehand so missing items can still be replaced.

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