1013) The Beemster, Netherlands: 20th Anniversary of Beemster Polder being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: An efficient Land Reclamation Project emulated by several countries world-wide: A set of Gold (10 Euro), Sterling Silver, Silver-plated and Uncirculated (All 5 Euro) coins brought out by the Royal Dutch Mint, Utrecht in 2019:

1013) The Beemster, Netherlands: 20th Anniversary of Beemster Polder being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: An efficient Land Reclamation Project emulated by several countries world-wide: A set of Gold (10 Euro), Sterling Silver, Silver-plated and  Uncirculated (All 5 Euro) coins brought out by the Royal Dutch Mint, Utrecht in 2019:

For other interesting posts on issues from the Royal Dutch Mint, Netherlands, please visit the following links:

1) The Stelling Van Amsterdam (Defense Line of Amsterdam), Netherlands: Royal Dutch Mint: Latest "Dutch UNESCO Sites Series" coins in the denominations of 5 Euro (Plated Copper), 5 Euro (Silver) and 10 Euro (Gold) issued on 21.11.2017

2) Fanny Blankers-Koen - "The Flying Housewife" who won four Gold Medals at the 1948 London Olympics: 100th Birth Anniversary commemorated with the issue of Gold, Sterling Silver and Silver plated Copper Coins in 2018

3) Netherlands: Gold Ducats - 2018: Single Ducat and Double Ducat Gold Coins minted by the Royal Dutch Mint, Netherlands in 2018

4) Royal Dutch Mint, Utrecht, Netherlands (or the "koninklijke Nederlandse Munt): Crossing the 100th Anniversary milestone with the issue the the World's first QR Coded Coin in 2011: Winner of the prestigious 2013 "Coin of the Year Award" (COTY) & the Most Innovative Coin of the Year" Category

5) The Beemster, Netherlands: 20th Anniversary of Beemster Polder being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: An efficient Land reclamation Project emulated by several countries world-wide: A set of Gold (10 Euro), Sterling Silver, Silver-plated and Uncirculated (All 5 Euro) coins brought out by the Royal Dutch Mint, Utrecht in 2019

6) Dutch Aviation, Netherlands: Centenary Celebrations (1919-2019): Three coins - one Gold (10 Euros), One Sterling Silver (5 Euros) and a Silver-plated (5 Euros) Coins, along with a Silver medal celebrate this milestone in Dutch Aviation history: Coin issue date: 14.03.2019

7) A New 2019 Fourth Series of Banknotes, Aruba, issued by the Central Bank of Aruba (Centrale Bank van Aruba) on 04.06.2019 comprising five denominations with the theme of "Endangered Flora and Fauna of Aruba" and historic monuments and landmarks

The Beemster Polder Coin:

Ever since 2012, every year, the Royal Dutch Mint brings out special Commemorative Coins celebrating Dutch World Heritage sites. The Kingdom of Netherlands has 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites/listings, of which commemorative coins have been brought out on 7 UNESCO listed Sites so far. 

The Beemster site is the eighth such Commemorative Coin to feature in this very popular Coin Series.

The Obverse and Reverse of the 10 Euro Gold and 5 Euro Silver Proof Coins placed along side a windmill  which was a vital part of driving the waterwheels which kept the sea-water out of the reclaimed land  and Dam embankments. One can see the green "reclaimed land" is far below the sea-level shown in this image in blue 

The UNESCO published book on World Heritage Sites, in my personal library titled "Treasures of the World" states the following citation of the Beemster World Heritage Site:

"The Netherlands owes its existence to reclaimed land like the Beemster Polder. If no dykes had been constructed and if there were no drainage of excess water, 65 per cent of the modern country would be under water. The seventeenth-century Beemster Polder is the oldest area of reclaimed land in the country and one of the most remarkable. It has preserved intact its well-ordered landscape of fields, roads, canals, dykes and settlements, laid out in accordance with classical planning principles.

Draining large areas like Beemster was made possible by the dramatic improvement in pumping technology using windmills driving waterwheels. Pumps were later converted to steam power, then diesel in the twentieth century. Now drainage is carried out by a fully automated electric pumping station.

The innovative landscape of the Beemster Polder has a profound impact on reclamation projects in Europe and beyond. Its creation advanced the interrelationship between humankind and water at a crucial period of social and economic expansion."

The Coin Description:

This coin tells the story of the historical polder in the North Holland Province, where the Dutch drained lands and converted it to fertile agricultural land. 

This year marks the 20th Anniversary of The Beemster Polder being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The design of the packaging features a section of the landscape of the Beemster, one can see the water being held down by the embankment. Next to the embankment, one can see a mill. Mills were used in the 17th Century to help drain the lands. The image clearly indicates that everyone in The Beemster lives and works below sea-level. 

This unique perception is a symbol for the draining of The Beemsterlake and the importance of Dutch embankments. If the dams break, there is a chance that the city could be under water.

All the Beemster Coins come with a free sea-level map, which shows the Netherlands and the various sea levels per city.

The Coin Designer Katrin Korfmann has emphasised the contrast between the free, organic form of the natural landscape and the sleek, constructed grid of the polder landscape.

The Reverse designs of all the coins - Gold (10 Euro), Silver (5 Euro), Brilliant Uncirculated (5 Euro) -  show the Beemster Polder from above. The landscape, icons and letters are deeper in relation to the landscape, just like the former Beemsterlake was in relation to the surrounding old country. 

Interestingly, on one of the earlier coin issues under this series - the Schokland 5 Euro Coin - this was exactly the other way around - as a reference to the former island, which stood out above the Zuiderzee or Zuider Zee (a shallow bay in the North Sea, also meaning the "Southern Sea" in Dutch).

The Obverse designs of all the coins show the profile of King Willem Alexander, facing right - his image presented in an abstract bur recognisable form. The portrait is depicted in a free line drawing, which serves as a stylistic device that connects the King with the cultivated landscape. In the King's portrait on the Beemster Polder coin, the grid pattern fills the inside of the portrait, connecting it to the landscape on the coin featured on the Reverse.

The various icons shown on the Reverses of all the coins run in harmony with the text and denominations of the coins, evoking references to the cultural values and history of the areas.

The above Chart/Diagram is in Dutch.

 I could not get hold of a Chart/Diagram in English. Nevertheless, it is clear that on the left upper periphery on the Reverse, is seen small images of a cow ("Koe" in Dutch) in a field representing agriculture/cultivated land and dairy products. To its right on the upper periphery is an "archetypal farmhouse" ("Stolpboerderij" in Dutch).

On the lower left periphery is a church representing places of religious worship ("Kirken" in Dutch), to its right is the symbol "Phi" with the year 1612 which is when the Beemster project was undertaken in accordance with Renaissance Principles. Further right on the lower periphery are seen "Fruit trees" ("Fruitboom" in Dutch).

These images are seen on the corners of all the Beemster coins in this issue.

Lettering: The lettering on all the Coins exhibits the Dutch font - Nobel - for all the text. It has geometric, sans-serif character, matching the constructed nature of the Polder landscape. The font is characterised by its clarity and is clearly readable even in small print. The Nobel font was designed in the 1920s, yet still retains a contemporary appearance.

The 10 Euro Gold Coin:

The Reverse and Obverse of the 10 Euro Gold Coin exhibit all the design elements enumerated above

The Reverse of the 10 Euro Gold Coin shows the design elements  detailed above. 

The peripheral inscriptions are - "WERELDERFGOED. 2019. DROOGMAKERIJ. DE BEEMSTER.  NEDERLANDS" (meaning "World Heritage Reclaimed The Beemster"). The denomination of the coin is marked "10 Euro".

The Obverse of the 10 Euro Gold Coin exhibits all the design elements described elsewhere above.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 10 Euro; Metal Composition: .900 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 6.72 grams; Diameter: 22.5 mm; Edge: Serrated; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 800 pieces.

The wooden box in which the coin is housed. The Coin comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and a detailed map giving the various sea levels in relation to the land masses/cities in the Netherlands.

The Sterling Silver 5 Euro Coin:

The Reverse of the Sterling Silver 5 Euro Coin exhibits all the design elements of this face enumerated elsewhere above.

The Obverse of the 5 Euro Sterling Silver Coin exhibits all the design elements of this face enumerated above.

The specifications of this 5 Euro Sterling silver coin are:

Denomination: 5 Euro; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Sterling Silver (Ag); Weight: 15.50 grams; Diameter: 33.0 mm; Edge Lettering: *GOD*ZIJ*MET*ONS" (meaning "God Be With Us"); Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 4,000 pieces.

The Silver-plated 5 Euro Coin:

The Reverse and Obverse of the 5 Euro Silver-plated Coin

The 5 Euro Silver-plated Coin comes in the above coin album. Both Obverse & Reverse faces exhibit identical design elements enumerated elsewhere above.

The specifications of the 5 Euro Silver-plated Coin are:

Denomination: 5 Euro; Metal Composition: Silver-plated Copper; Weight: 10.5 grams; Diameter: 29.0 mm; Coin Quality: Uncirculated (UNC); Mintage: 50,000 pieces.

The Brilliant Uncirculated 5 Euro Coin:

The Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) 5 Euro Coin comes in a specially designed Coin Card showing the higher sea level and a windmill.