The Beemster today
During the past few centuries the inhabitants of the Beemster have lived and worked in the polder, enjoying and suffering alternating periods of prosperity and economic decline. The industrial revolution mechanised agriculture and the appearance of the towns changed along with it. Also, pumping stations were constructed to take over the ongoing task of draining the polder. But several characteristics remained intact all those years, among which the ring canal and ring-dyke, the allotments and the town structures of Middenbeemster and Westbeemster. The structure of perfect squares and quadrants has endured through the centuries and can be seen to this very day. The long, narrow lots are also still there for all to see. The old centre of the town of Middenbeemster has been designated as a protected townscape. The eastern part of the polder is now transected by motorway A7, which has been incorporated into the chequerboard pattern.

In 1999, the whole of the Beemster was designated a World Heritage site. The southern part of the Beemster had already been designated as a World Heritage site in 1997 as a part of the Stelling of Amsterdam. So the two sites overlap in this part of the polder, which is a unique situation.