Noordbeemster developed as a linear settlement of houses and farmsteads. The historic village centre preserves the character of the old settlements that grew up in the Beemster. Together with the individual farmhouses, it offers a clear insight into rural architectural history: house types, gables, doors and construction dates all differ. The village’s history and architecture provide a clear focus for planning your trip; the polder landscape and regional produce complete the picture.
Village history in houses and details
The oldest building in Noordbeemster dates from 1725. It began as one of five school buildings in the new polder, linking the village’s history with its early educational history. Another historic building is the protected wooden house at Oosthuizerweg 25. It dates from the early 19th century and has a pointed gable, a fanlight above the entrance and a carved door. These distinctive details give the house a different architectural character from the farmhouses.
The Polder House complex also tells the story of water management in the Beemster polders. It is considered a well-preserved example of this type of structure and has architectural and cultural-historical value. An iron footbridge crosses the Noorddijk and runs partly into it as far as the Polder House. The complex also includes an elaborately designed garden gate, serving as an enclosure, from the second half of the 19th century.
Comparing the farmhouses
The farmhouses showcase a variety of regional forms and design ideas. Beemsters Wapen was built in 1884 and is considered a well-preserved example of late-19th-century farmhouse architecture in the Beemster. Its appearance includes eclectic details. Hovenberg, a Noordhollandse-type farmhouse, dates from 1889. In its central section, it has two pairs of outward-opening garden doors—a feature that is rare outside the Beemster. De Vlijthoeve was built in 1852 in a regional style, with eclectic details. Zonnehoek, in turn, was built in 1869 and is distinguished by the very restrained classicist design of its front gable. The construction dates and gables make it possible to compare how differently the houses were designed within the same rural setting.
Another example is Poortugal: this brick Stelphoeve farmhouse has a raised central section on its front gable and a cartouche dating from 1780. The variety ranges from individual gable designs to distinctive doors and later eclectic details. Several traditional Stelphoeve farmhouses also still stand along the road in Noordbeemster.
Polder landscape and regional produce
Kruisoord is a distinctive landscape feature of the Beemster. This former peat peninsula lies in the northern part of the Beemster Polder, about two metres above the level of the surrounding polder. Its plot layout differs markedly from that of the Beemster Polder and is similar to that of the Beetskoog Polder. The ring canal, built between 1610 and 1612 to drain the Beemster, separated Kruisoord from the Beetskoog Polder, making it a cultural landscape feature. Here, historic landscape forms sit alongside Noordbeemster’s architectural history.
Regional produce is also part of the village character: Noordbeemster has several places where products are sold directly from the farm. This offers a different perspective on the rural surroundings from the historic buildings and landscape features.
A different focus: Beemster Mini Koe
Beemster Mini Koe is located in Noordbeemster, a site centred on rare miniature cattle. These include Mini Galloways and Mini Highlanders. Feed & Greet events are held on the grounds on a small scale. This offers a clearly distinct subject alongside the architectural and polder history: miniature cattle and events on the grounds. Discover more destinations: Middenbeemster, Zuidoostbeemster.
For the broader travel overview: Beemster.
