BEEMSTER POLDER North Holland, Netherlands Population (Beemster total): 8919
=100 people
Area (Beemster total): 7208 hectares (721 square km)
Density (Beemster total): 12 per hectare
=100 people
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BEEMSTER POLDER North Holland, Netherlands Beemster, located in North Holland Province, the Netherlands, is a polder, or reclaimed former lake that was drained between 1609 and 1612. Once dry, the polder was divided into equal plots and used as agricultural land. The local economy is still largely based upon agriculture; specifically dairy farming. The famous 'Beemster Cheese' is produced here. The controlled entry of water into the polder is necessary to maintain this agricultural economy. Water access into the site strikes a crucial balance between the need for irrigation and the need to prevent flooding of the polder, which at its highest point is 2 meters below sea level, and at its lowest is nearly 5 meters below sea level. Water entry into the site is controlled by a ring dyke around the perimeter of the former lake, with a perimeter stream immediately outside the dyke, and a series of canals that cross the full width of the site. .
Beemster is an early example of regional planning, with an approximately 1 kilometer grid that alternates between major streets and canals. Smaller irrigation canals fill in the cells of the 1 kilometer grid, and the major streets are lined with farmhouses. The grid has remained largely unchanged since it was laid down in the early 17th century. At the center of the polder is Middenbeemster, a small town that occurs at the crossing of two of the major streets through the polder. Middenbeemster shows the extent to which the inhabitants of the polder are accustomed to living in proximity to water, as the grid of canals from the agricultural land enters and permeates the town. Beemster was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1999.
POP. 8,919 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000
1000
~800
1250
1605
1608
1610
1612
C cr o-O ea ps te f ch orm ee ed se t o
B in eem pe st at er
2000
H dr olla ai nd n Be de em cid es es te to r Co La of ns ke tr t an he uc d ri tio fir ng n st d m yk Re ills e br fil ea led k in due dy t ke o La ke dr ie d
co ve re d
3000
S s tor se mal m f a l r loo iv er ds in en to la in rge la nd
4,000
1901
2014
052° 32’ 53” N 004° 54’ 40” E
2000 km x 2000 km
Beemster Lake (1250-1612)
20 km x 20 km
20 km x 20 km
De Rijp North Holland, Netherlands =100 people
Population (De Rijp): 4,455
Area (De Rijp): 106 hectares (1.06 square km)
Density (De Rijp): 42 per hectare
=100 people
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1 km x 1 km
Polder Drainage System
Automatic Door
Water Intake
Tail Race
Scoop Wheel
10 METERS
Piles
Polder Edge/ Water Usage
Aqueducts- water for human consumption, agriculture irrigation
Transportation canals, connect to existing lakes rivers, or even seas and oceans
MIDDENBEEMSTER North Holland, Netherlands Population (Middenbeemster): 3628
=100 people
Area (Middenbeemster): 82 hectares (.82 square km)
Density (Middenbeemster): 428 per hectare
Dwelling units (Middenbeemster): 1404
Unit Density: 17 per hectare
Religion
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=100 people
=100 units
=10 units
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Global Location
1 km x 1 km
10 METERS