Beemster

Beemster ( listen / i?) ( West Frisian: Biemster ) is a polder and a municipality in the Netherlands, North Holland province.

Linguistic

In the Netherlands the name is Beemster with the definite article used. It does not say hij woont in Beemster, but: woont hij in de Beemster ( German: he lives in the Beemster ). The same is true for the other polders Wormer, Purmer, Schermer, and often Wieringermeer, Haarlemmermeer.

Places

• Midden- Beemster, in the middle of the polder; Seat of the municipality
• Zuidoost - Beemster
• West - Beemster
• Noord- Beemster

Position, traffic and business

Topographic map of the municipality, 2013.

The polder is situated in the center of the province, between Alkmaar, Hoorn and Purmerend. It is intersected by old, straight roads and ditches. The lack of curves can lead to motorists driving too fast or overlooked by the monotony of the trip certain risks such as side roads, city limits, about crossing cyclists and others. This phenomenon, which is referred to in the Netherlands with " polderblindheid " (polders blindness), has led to several accidents in Beemster, so that the community has taken special measures, including a reduction in the speed limit. The nearest railway station is located in Purmerend.

Main source of income is livestock, among other things, the Beemster cheese that is still being negotiated on the cheese market in Alkmaar. Beemster is the trade name for a brand of cheese. Tourism also is rapidly gaining importance.

History

In the Middle Ages the sea " Beemster " was born. Since spread ever further in the 16th century, this lake among others by floods and storm surges and the neighboring towns threatened, the formation of a company ( compagnie ) to drain the lake, it was decided in 1607. Under the supervision of the famous engineer January Adriaanszoon Leeghwater of Graft- De Rijp this plan was executed. On 19 May 1612, the lake was pumped and was converted into a fertile, rich pastureland. Important architects designed village churches, homes and farms. Beemster at that time was one of the wealthiest regions of Holland and it is still.

In the 1780s, lived in the parish of Midden- Beemster the well-to- well writer Betje Wolff ( 1738-1804 ). Here she worked together with her colleague Aagje Deken on her epistolary novel Sara Burger Hart ( 1782 ). This work is considered by many experts to be the best product of Dutch literature of the 18th century.

Attractions

• The polder has been classified with its many well preserved and richly decorated farmhouses from the 17th century, its old, straight streets, the beautiful village of Midden- Beemster and the surviving windmills by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
• The village church of Midden- Beemster is well worth seeing. In the summer there are organized tours.
• The parish of Midden- Beemster is now a Betje Wolff Museum. Also not on the writer buffs will appreciate the interior of the house with furniture from the 18th century.

Twinning

• Studena u Telče in the Czech Republic