The World Heritage Committee decided in 1999 to inscribe the Beemster on the basis of cultural criteria (1), (2) and (4). Stated briefly, according to these criteria cultural world heritage must at least: (1) be a masterpiece of human creative genius and (2) mark an important transition in the development of technology, architecture, town-planning or landscape design and (4): be an example of a building or a landscape which illustrates one or more significant stages in human history.

The following considerations applied when the Beemster was inscribed:
(1): The Beemster polder is a masterpiece of creative planning, in which the ideals of ancient times and the Renaissance are applied in the design of a polder landscape.
(2): The innovative and visionary landscape of the Beemster polder has had a deep and lasting effect on reclamation projects in Europe and elsewhere.
(4): The realisation of the Beemster polder marks a giant step forward in man's relationship with water in an important period of social and economic development. The Beemster polder is therefore a man-made creative masterpiece whilst the ideals of the 17th century can still be perceived throughout area.