Purmerend, Middenbeemster, De Rijp

This cycle route combines two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: The Beemster and the Defence Line of Amsterdam, part of heritage 'Dutch Water Defence Lines'.

De Beemster is world-famous for its straight lines, which can be seen everywhere here. In the meadows, the ditches, the streets... Everything here was laid out over four hundred years ago using the measuring system of the 'Golden Section'. The geometric ideal was perfectly executed here.

The farms you see in the polder are not to be sneezed at. Indeed, the Beemster was a favourite holiday spot for the rich merchants from Amsterdam. With their capital, they had beautiful pleasure gardens built, where they stayed in their spare time to escape the busy city. Unfortunately, not many of these pleasure gardens have survived, but the capital farmhouses they had built for their surveyors do. You can recognise them by their decorated facades, like the canal houses in Amsterdam.

Because of Amsterdam's flourishing trade, the city was also attractive to enemies. To protect the city, forts were built in a 15-20 kilometre radius from Amsterdam, which together form the Stelling van Amsterdam. Many of these forts have been well preserved and you can still admire them today. For example with this fantastic cycle route!

The numerous farms offer you more than enough local produce of high quality and special taste, as you only taste in the Beemster. Also visit Museum Jan Boon in De Rijp, formerly known as whalers' village. Jan Boon was a particularly rich fisherman, but also a benefactor who left his huge capital for the benefit of the development of De Rijp.

Photo: ©M.L. Slot-Dekker, via Laag Holland