Remember the windmills. Without them, the Beemster wouldn’t exist. This seemingly simple landscape is a testament to Dutch ingenuity and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Beemster is the first polder in the Netherlands reclaimed from a lake. Windmills extracted the water between 1609 and 1612.
Imagine this area covered entirely by water. Private investors decided to drain the Beemster lake around 1605. By 1610, the project neared completion. However, a breach in the Zuiderzee dikes caused the lake to refill. Undeterred, they heightened the ring-dike by a meter. Finally, in 1612, the Beemster polder was dry. The land was then divided among the investors.
Initially, the land served farmers growing crops for long sea journeys to the East Indies by the VOC. The farmland proved so fertile that the project became an economic triumph. The Beemster’s well-ordered landscape boasts fields, roads, canals, and dykes that remain remarkably intact. A grid of canals mirrors the grid of roads. Larger feeder canals offset the larger roads by about a kilometer.
Around 800 AD, this area was mostly peat. The name “Beemster” comes from “Bamestra”. Bamestra was a small river here. Between 1150 and 1250, peat-digging and storm floods transformed that river into an inland sea connected to the Zuiderzee.
The Beemster Polder earned its place on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1999. This is because of its historical importance. The area’s original structure remains largely unchanged. UNESCO justifies its inclusion with three key points. First, the Beemster Polder showcases creative planning. It applies ideals of antiquity and the Renaissance to a reclaimed landscape. Second, its innovative design profoundly impacted reclamation projects across Europe. Third, the Beemster Polder represents a significant advancement in humankind’s relationship with water. This happened during a crucial period of social and economic growth.
Interestingly, the Beemster Polder also contains five fortresses. These are part of the Stelling van Amsterdam. That is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Therefore, the Beemster Polder combines two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Did you know that the Beemster is home to CONO Kaasmakers? They produce the famous Beemster cheese. This co-op started in 1901. It aimed to create cheese from the milk of Beemster polder cows. Today, Beemster cheese is enjoyed throughout Europe, the U.S., Canada, Japan, and China.
The Beemster’s fertile soil contributes to the unique taste of its cheese. The old marine clay enriches the grass. This then enhances the milk quality. Cono Kaasmakers uses some traditional methods. Their cheesemaker stirs the curd by hand. This ensures even drainage and a smoother texture.
Cono strives to be the greenest dairy. They aim to be CO2 neutral. They launched the Caring Dairy project. It focuses on sustainable dairy farming. Cows graze outside 180 days a year. They live longer, healthier lives and produce more milk.
So, as you explore the Beemster, appreciate the blend of history, innovation, and sustainable practices that define this remarkable landscape. The Beemster stands as a lasting symbol of Dutch resourcefulness. It reminds us of the enduring relationship between people and the land.