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The Beemster

in Laag Holland

Een foto van Fort bij Spijkerboor in de Beemster Aerial view of orchard at The Proeftuin in De Beemster. Apples from the Proeftuin from De Beemster.

Discover the Beemster - World heritage site De Beemster Polder

De Beemster is a polder in Laag Holland, 3.5 metres below sea level. The landscape is geometrically parcelled and, together with the Dutch Waterline, forms a unique set of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Here you can see how centuries of water management and human ingenuity have shaped the country. Anyone who traverses the polder, on foot or by bike, experiences straight lines, quiet waterways and a horizon that stretches endlessly. Fortresses of the Water Line stand as silent witnesses of a defence work that was never used, but today gives meaning to our heritage. The Beemster is a destination for those seeking peace and space, but also for those who want to find depth in the relationship between people and water. Local products reflect the seasons, routes are accessible almost all year round and the area is just 30 minutes from Amsterdam. It is a place where silence, landscape and history come together and where every visitor can discover new insights.

  • Cycling and hiking

    Through the open polder landscape of De Beemster, each route takes you along straight lines, quiet waterways and wide views. On a bicycle or on foot, you will experience the geometry of the landscape and the peace that the wind and light bring.

    Cycling and hiking

  • World heritage squared

    The Beemster is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within this landscape lies another: the Dutch Waterways. Once designed as a line of defence, now a series of forts that, as silent witnesses, make our history visible.

    World heritage squared
  • Logo in colour block Visit Beemster.

  • Regional products

    Besides its famous cheese, De Beemster offers seasonal products such as apples and garlic. In small farm shops, you can taste the simplicity of the land and the connection between man and nature.

    Regional products Regional produce trolley at The Proeftuin

  • Discover the Beemster

    An electric scooter ride, a bicycle tour along two World Heritage Sites or a view from the church tower: each experience gives a different perspective on the interplay of water, land and history.

    Discover the Beemster A scooter from Visit Beemster at Fort Resort Beemster

Tips for now! - Wondering what there is to do?

  • Food & drink

    Dine in the silence of an old fortress, lunch with produce from the land or enjoy tea in a garden where time slows down. At De Beemster, every meal is an encounter with tradition and simplicity.

    Eating & drinking in De Beemster

  • Overnight

    Sleep in a fort where walls whisper stories, in a caravan with a touch of nostalgia or under the branches of a fruit orchard. Spending the night in De Beemster is always an experience that brings silence and the landscape closer.

    Stay overnight in De Beemster

  • Webshop Visit Beemster

    Beemster Proud Package.

    A dish, a flag or a package full of local products: the webshop offers tangible reminders of the polder. Each item carries the atmosphere of De Beemster home with it.

    Go to the webshop

Practical information

  • What makes De Beemster special?

    De Beemster is a polder 3.5 metres below sea level and combines two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the geometric allotment and the Dutch Waterline with historic forts.

  • What activities can I do in De Beemster?

    Visitors can cycle and walk through the open landscape, take an electric scooter ride, visit forts, climb the church tower and taste regional products from local producers.

  • Is De Beemster suitable for children?

    Yes, De Beemster has a special children's cycle route, educational forts and cosy stops with regional products, ideal for a day out with children.

  • When can I visit De Beemster?

    Routes and attractions are accessible almost all year round, allowing you to enjoy the landscape and culture in every season.

  • How do I get to De Beemster from Amsterdam?

    De Beemster is about a 30-minute drive from Amsterdam and is easily accessible by both car and public transport. Parking is available at TOP Beemster.

De Beemster Polder - The poetry of the straight line in De Beemster

We now count ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Netherlands. Since 1996, the Defence Line of Amsterdam has been on this prestige list and in 2021 the New Dutch Waterline was added. Together, these two lines now form the world heritage Hollandse Waterlinies. Droogmakerij de Beemster was added to this list in 1999. Why exactly De Beemster, you might think. After all, the Netherlands has many more polders. And indeed there are, but De Beemster was the first large-scale landscape project in the world to fully apply Da Vinci's Golden Section principle. An allotment pattern consisting of squares and thus, according to classical notions, a completely harmonious whole.

Amsterdam merchants provided the financing and Jan Adriaanszoon was engaged to oversee the construction of 43 mills that were to reclaim Lake Bamestra. The reclamation was completed in 1612. The reclaimed land was 3.5 metres below sea level and appeared to consist of fertile clay that was parceled out in a grid of squares. Today, anyone who visits the Unesco World Heritage Site Droogmakerij De Beemster in North Holland will come across the geometric pattern everywhere in the landscape. Unfortunately, the water mills, which grinded things dry here at the time, have not stood the test of time. But if you want to see how this reclamation was done, you should visit the Museummolen in neighbouring polder the Schermer. The only mill you can still see in the Beemster landscape is De Nachtegaal in Middenbeemster. An octagonal windmill from 1704 that still serves as a corn mill.

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