Travel tips for Beemster Polder, Netherlands

Scenic spot introduction:

Beemster is the first so-called polder in the Netherlands, created by clearing water from a lake. The local rural scenery, fields, roads, canals, levees and colonies have been preserved intact to this day, presenting an ancient Renaissance scene. The canal grid and road grid are parallel and compensate for each other, which is very consistent with classical and Renaissance planning principles.

Attractions distribution:

In the early 17th century, due to the erosion of sea water and sea breeze, the Netherlands faced a severe shortage of arable land. In 1607, the Dutch government decided to drain the water in the Beemster area to expand the arable land area. Merchants in Amsterdam, senior government officials responsible for raising funds, and engineers helped build windmills, creating a unique production method for lake reclamation.
In 1612, the land reclamation work was completed. The new land was 3.5 meters below sea level, composed of fertile clay, and was divided into rectangular grids with a length of 930 meters and a width of 185 meters, reflecting the ideal model of harmonious relationship between people and the living environment in the 17th century. These small rectangular plots of land were rented to farmers who made a living by farming and grazing. In order to facilitate water management, the original four management areas here have now been re-divided into seven.
Today, the windmills that used to protect Beemster from flooding have been replaced by pump houses, and the former residences of wealthy merchants are deserted. Only a few farmhouses dating back to the early days of Beemster remain, and the small plots of land surrounded by roads and divided by straight ditches are still there, witnessing the history of the struggle between humans and nature for land.

Scenic spot qualifications:

World Heritage

Scenic spot features:

Cultural tours, photography, sightseeing, rural scenery