Enjoy from Middenbeemster

Cycling through the polder of De Beemster you experience what is meant by the statement 'God created the world, the Dutch made the Netherlands'. The polder is veined with ditches, canals and channels to regulate the water level. This unique and beautiful cultural-historical landscape of Droogmakerij De Beemster has even been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1999! Around the year 1250, this area was still a lake that had an open connection with the Zuiderzee. In 1612 the area was completely drained with the help of 50 polder mills. The land was then divided into rectangular plots, the pattern of which is still visible.

Not only the polder, but also the Beemster villages still breathe their centuries of history. You will pass through Middenbeemster, the oldest village in this polder. The square was constructed in 1610 in the middle plot of the Beemster, the place name is therefore derived from this. There are many national monuments in this town, some of which are protected village views. You will see De Nachtegaal, a flour mill from the early eighteenth century.

Part of the route runs through the Koggenland, whose name refers to the cogs from the Middle Ages. Such a cog usually consisted of 4 or 5 villages and was a jurisdiction. The land in this region has also been reclaimed with blood, sweat and tears. You will pass through some old villages that are so characteristic of this region, such as Grosthuizen, Bobeldijk and Zuidermeer.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, all polder mills in De Beemster were demolished and replaced by pumping stations. Fortunately, you will see some historic polder mills in other places along the way. You can see the first one near Spanbroek: The Westerveer dates from 1873 and drained the low-lying Westerveerpolder. A little later you pass the Hensbroek from 1866.

In the flat and wide landscape near the Schermervaart you can see three polder mills in quick succession. Ondermolen O, Ondermolen K and Bovenmolen G all date from 1633. The mills were part of a system of 38 mills to drain Droogmakerij De Schermer.