nominatiedossier Droogmakerij De Beemster - Bewoners Netwerk ...

CHAPTER 2. JUSTIFICATION
2.1. Statement of significance
De Beemster is a 17th century polder (1607‐1613) with a surface area of approximately 5x8
kilometres and a ground level of 3.00 metres to 4.80 metres below Mean Sea Level (N.A.P.). lts
circumference follows the edges of a drained lake, the Beemster, which used to be linked directly to
the former Zuiderzee (now IJsselmeer).
Ground plan and parcelling in lots according to a rational geometrie ground plan with a module of
900 x 900 metres (i.e. 5 x parcel size of 180 x 900 metres determined at time of cultivation). The road
system (107 kilometres long) and watercourse system cross each other orthogonally.
The lots have a central axis running north to south, the Middenweg, which in turn is crossed by the
Middensloot/Rijperweg running east‐west. Six 1,800 x 1,800 metre squares form the rectangular grid
of the centre of the polder, measuring the ideal classic measurement ratio of 2:3.
The centre is the main town of Middenbeemster. The village of Noordbeemster Hes north of
Middenbeemster, where Middenweg and Oosthuizerweg intersect. Westbeemster is situated along
Jisperweg.
The Beemster is bordered by a circular line (approximately 48.9 kilometres) of ring‐dikes and ring‐
ditches. The reclaimed land is divided into four sections (Bovenpolder, Middenpolder, Arenbergpolder
and Kilpolder).
The slightly elevated roads, lanes, in the open country have been planted with trees.
Farms built in the style of the ʺbell‐jarʺ farmhouse; some 17th century farms along Middenweg are
unique as to architecture.
During the 19th and 20th century, five forts were built along the western, eastern and southern sides
of De Beemster, namely a fort north of Purmerend (1912), a fort along Nekkerweg (1913), a fort along
Middenweg (1913‐1914), a fort along Jisperweg (1914), and a fort near Spijkerboor (1913). They were
part of the Stelling van Amsterdam (the national defence line constructed between 1880 and 1920, to
protect the countryʹs capital. Since 1996 included on the World Heritage List).
The area was originally drained by means of approximately 40 windmills but these were replaced by
two pumping stations (1877 and 1880, later modified, and now replaced).
Recent changes to the landscape due to the construction of the A7 highway (parallel to
Pumerenderweg) are incorporated into the grid of the Beemster layout. The A7 orthogonally
intersects the N244/S10 (parallel to Volgerweg) running from Edam/Volendam to Alkmaar.
Het droogmalen tussen 1607 en 1612 van de 7000h. grote wateren van de Beemster moet
worden gezien als een zeer belangrijk en uniek moment in de geschiedenis van de landreclamation, in
Nederland en daarbuiten. De topografie en de morfologie van het landschap van met name het
noorden van Noord‐Holland, het gedeelte benoorden het IJ, is door de elkaar opvolgende
droogmakerijen van meren en plassen ingrijpend gewijzigd.
Landreclamation vond niet alleen in Nederland maar in vele landen van Europa en daarbuiten plaats.
Het waren met name Nederlandse ingenieurs, vestingbouwkundigen en dijkenbouwers in de 17de
eeuw, die met hun kennis en vernuft in tal van landen over heel Europa verspreid land hebben
aangewonnen, fortificaties hebben ontworpen, nieuwe steden of stadsuitbreidingen ervan ontworpen
hebben of waterstaatkundige werken op hun naam hebben gesteld.
Als voorbeelden kunnen worden genoemd in Engeland Holland Fen, het moeras in het Fendistrict
Bedford Level (1629) (300.000 acres) door Cornelius Vermuyden (geb. 1590) (schreef ʹDiscours
touching the draining of the Great Fennes, ca. 1655), Dagenham (1621), Royal Park in Windsor (1621)
en Hatfield Chase (1626‐1629) (75.000 acres), eveneens door Vermuyden. In Duitsland werkten zij,
evenals in Denemarken (Amager, 1600; het bedijken van het moeras in Bredstedt, het Bredstedt Vaerk,
naar plannen van Johan Sems, 1619, en mogelijk is Sems ook betrokken geweest bij de uitleg van de
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