Land of Leeghwater and UNESCO World Heritage Beemster
Cycling through a polder landscape with a harmonious mix of peat meadows, fields, straight roads, canals, dikes, traditional farmhouses, and historic buildings.
The Landscape
The UNESCO World Heritage Beemster is a striking example of innovative water management and land reclamation from the early 17th century. In 1612, the Beemster was drained using an ingenious network of windmills, dikes, and canals, creating a polder on the site of a former lake. The reclaimed land was 3.5 meters below sea level and turned out to be composed of fertile clay, which was divided into a grid of square plots.
The symmetrical grid pattern of the Beemster and the ingenious water management systems of the Land of Leeghwater are not only practical but also visually impressive. These polders beautifully illustrate how the Dutch have shaped and managed their landscape over the centuries. They symbolize the ongoing battle against water, a crucial part of Dutch identity and heritage. These areas are important not only for the Netherlands but also globally, due to their UNESCO World Heritage status and their influence on urban planning and land development.
Estates and Heritage
Polders and Farmlands
Lakes and Ponds
Swamps and Peatlands
Bike with us
Route map
Start and finish near bike node 62 on the Groeneweg in Graft. However, this bike route is a circular tour, so it offers the possibility to start from any of the following bike nodes.
62 -58 - 80 - 81 - 82 - 27 - 28 - 🕀 - 🕀 - 32 - 33 - 10 - 63 - 12 - 11 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 29 - 61 - 62
