Beemster Polder

Beemster Polder is the unparalleled symbol of Dutch land reclamation, created between 1609 and 1612 by draining Lake Beemster into a precise grid of 18,000 hectares of fertile farmland. This 17th-century feat used 40 windmills to lift water 4 meters higher than the surrounding landscape, producing yields of 6,000 tons of cheese annually.