World Heritage Squared

(17,0 km)
This walking trail takes you through no fewer than two world heritage sites: the Beemster reclamation and the Dutch Water Lines (including the Defense Line of Amsterdam). A unique experience!

Dykes, forts, an inundation sluice, panoramic views over land that has been reclaimed from water, the lowest-lying arboretum in the world, farmhouses and stalls where you can buy the most delicious regional products that the Beemster has in season, directly from the land. You will find it all along this trail.

The connecting routes make it possible to shorten this walking route to a length of 10 or 14 kilometers. The route can be extended to 20 km if you combine the route with the Canal Walk or City Walk through Purmerend.

Reclamation de Beemster
The Beemster in North Holland is a textbook exampl…

Dykes, forts, an inundation sluice, panoramic views over land that has been reclaimed from water, the lowest-lying arboretum in the world, farmhouses and stalls where you can buy the most delicious regional products that the Beemster has in season, directly from the land. You will find it all along this trail.

The connecting routes make it possible to shorten this walking route to a length of 10 or 14 kilometers. The route can be extended to 20 km if you combine the route with the Canal Walk or City Walk through Purmerend.

Reclamation de Beemster
The Beemster in North Holland is a textbook example of how the Dutch have reclaimed large parts of their country. This 17th century polder was set up to convert the threatening inland lake the Beemstermeer into fertile and profitable agricultural land. A sturdy dyke of 42 kilometers long was built around the wild lake and a ring canal was dug around it. Then, 43 windmills started pumping the water out of the lake.

In 1612 De Beemster was fully dry and the layout of the polder could begin. Roads were built, road ditches and plot ditches were dug and farms were built. All this happened according to an orderly and strict geometric pattern. De Beemster owes its fame to this rational subdivision and layout.

Dutch Water Lines (the Defense Line of Amsterdam)
The Defense Line of Amsterdam is a defense line of forts that was built between 1880 and 1914, 15 to 20 kilometers around Amsterdam. Within this ring, the army, the government and the king could withdraw from (possible) attacks on the Netherlands. Through an ingenious system, the land around the defense line could be flooded. Too shallow for boats and too deep for soldiers on foot and cavalry. This made raids more difficult. However, even before construction was completed, the defence line was already obsolete by the advent of the airplane.

During the two world wars, the forts were put in a state of defense. Ultimately, there was never any fighting on the forts. Five forts and an inundation lock of this defense line are located in De Beemster. Some of these fascinating buildings can still be admired in their original state. Other fortresses have been given a new destination, such as the Fort aan de Nekkerweg, which is now a wellness resort.

Since July 2021, UNESCO has placed the Dutch Water Lines on the World Heritage List. The defense lines, the Defense Line of Amsterdam and the New Dutch Water Line, will continue as one World Heritage Site under the name 'Dutch Water Lines'.

Dit ga je zien

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Tourist Transfer Point (TOP) Purmerend

TOPs are Tourist Transfer Points. You can park your car at each TOP and then discover the rural surroundings by bike, on foot or by boat.

Informatiezuil TOP Purmerend
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Information panel Slot Purmersteijn | Slotplein

The Slotplein is an important, historic place for Purmerend. There is not much left to see now, but this used to be the location of an enormous castle, with large donjons on the corners and huge halls. Even bigger than the Muiderslot!

17th century painting of Slot Purmersteijn
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Information panel Necker-Poort | Neckerdijk

The Neckerpoort (Neck Gate) is one of the five former gates of the old city of Purmerend.

A painting of the Neckerpoort from 1798
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Painted panels

Look at the panels on the building on the corner of the Nieuwstraat and the Gouw. These panels show a piece of Purmerend’s history.

Het Gouw with a few of the panels on the left
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Information panel Postbrug | Herengracht

The first building outside the city walls of Purmerend was built around 1900. The impressive mansions on the Herengracht and Emmakade are still here today.

An old image of the Emmakade with the Postbrug in the background
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Information panel Bastion | Wolthuissingel

The Bastion, or stronghold, was built in 1645 in order to strengthen the defenses of the city.

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Koemarkt (Cattle Market)

Until the eighties of the last century, Purmerend was a bustling 'Market City'. Every week, the Koemarkt would be full of cattle, ready to be sold.

Flyer cattle market
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Information panel Kaasmarkt (Cheese Market)

The Kaasmarkt in Purmerend has a market history of more than 600 years. The first small-scale market was held here in 1484, when it was still called Marktveld and was no more than a small square.

A painting of the Purmerend Cheese Market around 1900
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Oostdijk / Beemsterringvaart | World Heritage Site the Beemster Reclamation

In 1607 the States of Holland and West Friesland granted permission to drain the Beemster lake. It would be a profitable project that could also contribute to the food supply of fast-growing Amsterdam.

An old-fashioned sailing boat on the Beemsterringvaart
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Information panel Buter family

This information panel tells the story of the 'forgotten' keeper of Fort Benoorden and his family.

A photo of the information panel about the Family Buter
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Fort Benoorden

Fort Benoorden is one of the fortresses of the Defense Line of Amsterdam, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage 'Dutch Water Lines'. This defense line was constructed between 1880 and 1914, 15 to 20 kilometers around Amsterdam.

The front of fort Benoorden
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Information panel Deutzen-Hofje farm

This farm was built in 1881 by order of the Amsterdam Deutzenhofje. This distinguished court on the Prinsengracht was built in 1694-95, financed from the estate of Agneta Deutz.

Milk farm Deutzen-Hofje
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Fort on the Nekkerweg

The fortress on the Nekkerweg is one of the fortresses of the Defense Line of Amsterdam, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage 'Dutch Water Lines'. This defense line was constructed between 1880 and 1914, 15 to 20 kilometers around Amsterdam.

fort resort Nekkerweg Beemster
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Rustenhoven

This mansion was built in Louis XV style. It stands on the site of a former country estate. Striking are the 'corner pilasters' and decorated entrance with the year 1768 and the coat of arms.

Rustenhove
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Intersection Volgerweg / Middenweg

This intersection is also known as the 'crossroads of four centuries of architecture'.

Blossoms and two walkers on the Volgerweg
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"De Eenhoorn" farm

Farm "De Eenhoorn" (the Unicorn) is a prime example of a farmhouse in De Beemster. The living area is made of brick and the rear-extended stable area of wood.

Boerderij De Eenhoorn, anno 1682
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Fort on the Middenweg

The fortress on the Middenweg is one of the fortresses of the Defense Line of Amsterdam, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage 'Dutch Water Lines'. This defense line was constructed between 1880 and 1914, 15 to 20 kilometers around Amsterdam.

Beemster, fort aan de Middenweg
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Inundatiesluis in Zuidelijke Beemsterringdijk

De Inundatiesluis maakt onderdeel uit van de Stelling van Amsterdam en werd aangelegd door het Departement van Oorlog tussen 1890 en 1891.

Inundatiesluis in Zuidelijke Beemsterringdijk
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Information panel 'Water Against the Enemy'

This information panel tells the story of the Inundation Lock from the Second World War to the present.

Information panel 'Water Against the Enemy'
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Information panel "Beemster War Memories"

Read about De Beemster in the Second World War on this information panel.

A photo from World War II, after the Germans flooded the Beemster.
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Information panel Beemster-Poort | Beemsterburgwal

The Beemster-Poort (Beemster Gate) was the fifth and last city gate to be built around Purmerend.

Beemster Poort
22
Information panel "remarkable house"

This house was built around 1900 by contractor Kerkhof. He was also the first resident.

The house seen from the front
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Information panel "Mariënheuvel"

Mariënheuvel is one of the last remaining country estates in the Beemster. The country estate has existed since the reclamation of the Beemster in 1612 as inner lot 96 and was owned by Dick van Os, one of the founders of the Dutch East India Company.

The Mariënheuvel estate in De Beemster
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Information panel "wooden house"

The "Kringenwet" is a Dutch law from 1814, revised in 1853. The purpose of the law was to keep the field of fire around fortifications free. Demolition, construction, harvesting and planting within the Forbidden Circles was regulated in this law.

The Wooden House on the Nekkerweg
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Beemster Arboretum

The Beemster Arboretum is a unique collection of plants and trees that can continue to grow until the end of days in a park-like environment in the Beemster.

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Tourist Transfer Point (TOP) Purmerend

TOPs are Tourist Transfer Points. You can park your car at each TOP and then discover the rural surroundings by bike, on foot or by boat.

Informatiezuil TOP Purmerend
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