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UNESCO World heritage site Land reclamation the Beemster

From inland lake to polder - How did De Beemster come into being?

The Beemster Polder is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Laag Holland. In the early 17th century, a large inland lake was drained using windmills, creating an innovative polder landscape. The geometric pattern of roads, plots and waterways is still visible today. The Beemster is therefore a unique example of Dutch water management and demonstrates how people and nature have shaped the landscape together. Where cows now graze and thatched farmhouses stand, the waters of Lake Beemster once lapped the shore. Within a few years, this vast lake was transformed into fertile land – an unprecedented achievement for its time. It is precisely because the 17th-century design is still visible today that the Beemster was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

  • A map of the Beemster before it was reclaimed.

    From lake to new land

    The Beemster was once a vast inland lake. In 1607, Amsterdam merchants and officials from The Hague received permission from the States of Holland to drain the lake and create new agricultural land. Under the supervision of Jan Adriaenszoon Leeghwater, amongst others, a ring canal and dykes were constructed. In 1612, the Beemster Lake was drained, giving rise to a new landscape.

  • Detail of a copper engraving from 1640 depicting the mill complex near Beets.

    A visionary design

    With 50 polder mills and thousands of workers, Holland gained over 70 square kilometres of land. Roads, ditches and plots were laid out according to an innovative design that was far ahead of its time. The copper engraving from 1640 depicts the row of windmills at Beets: a tangible reminder of the technology and ingenuity with which the Beemster was reclaimed.

  • A living World Heritage Site

    More than four centuries later, the original design is still recognisable. Straight roads, square plots and thatched farmhouses characterise the landscape. At the same time, the Beemster is not an open-air museum, but a place where people live and work, and where the centuries-old heritage remains an integral part of daily life.

Experience the World Heritage Site - Discover the UNESCO landscape up close

Would you like to experience the story of the Beemster for yourself? Climb a church tower, hop on a bike or go for a walk through the centuries-old polder landscape. Along the way, you’ll discover how the original design is still visible today.

World heritage room

At the Beemster Visitor Centre, you can learn about the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Beemster Reclamation, in an accessible way. Through stories and a large overview map, discover how the polder landscape came into being and which special places you shouldn’t miss. Be inspired, and then set off on your own journey of discovery through the World Heritage Site.

Visit the World Heritage Hall
The World Heritage Room at the visitor centre in Middenbeemster.

Keyserklim

See the Beemster from a unique perspective. From the tower of the Keyserkerk, the oldest building in the polder, you can look out over the UNESCO World Heritage Site and the characteristic grid pattern of the land at a height of 32 metres. With the audio tour, you can hear the stories behind the landscape stretching out below you. Bring your phone and earphones for the full experience.

Discover the Keyserklim
A girl on the tower of the Keyserkerk looking out at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Beemster Polder.

Cycling & hiking - by the World Heritage Site

Discover the Beemster at your own pace. Cycle along straight polder roads or walk past historic villages, canals and farmhouses. Along the way, you’ll experience the tranquillity, open spaces and unique pattern of a landscape that has remained virtually unchanged for over four centuries.

Discover even more World Heritage sites

Did you know that the Beemster is home to a second UNESCO World Heritage Site? The Dutch Water Lines form an ingenious defence system in which water was used as an ally. Forts, dykes and sluices tell the story of a country that not only protected itself against the water, but also knew how to use it strategically. Discover how this remarkable history is reflected in today’s landscape.

Discover the Dutch Waterlines
The opening of the Fort along Nekkerweg (Fort Resort Beemster)

Frequently asked questions

The Beemster Reclamation is an exceptional example of 17th-century Dutch water management. The original design, featuring straight roads, plots of land and watercourses, is still visible today and exceptionally well preserved.

The land reclamation took place between 1607 and 1612. With the help of windmills, the Beemstermeer was drained, creating new land.

Jan Adriaenszoon Leeghwater oversaw parts of the project and later became a well-known symbol of the Dutch struggle against the water. However, the land reclamation was the result of a collaboration between investors, administrators and thousands of labourers.

The Beemster was laid out according to a carefully thought-out pattern of roads, ditches and plots, inspired by Renaissance ideals of order and harmony. More than four centuries later, that design is still recognisable.

Visit the World Heritage Hall, climb the Keyserkerk during a ‘Keyserklim’ or explore the countryside via a cycling or walking route. This way, you can experience the story of the Beemster in various ways.

Many visitors start at the Beemster Visitor Centre. Here, in the World Heritage Hall, you can discover how the polder came into being and which places you shouldn’t miss during your visit.

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