Built 50 years ago on what was once the seabed, a visit to Almere is surprisingly different. As the newest city in the Netherlands, it has a lot to offer and is never boring! Known locally as ‘Ally’, this city has it all: modern architecture, loads of shops, special nature reserves and beautiful beaches. In fact, it’s often called an open-air museum of modern architecture!
Like a local
Discover ‘Ally’
Discover ‘Ally’
© Almere City Marketing
Almere is the newest and perhaps greenest city in the Netherlands. It was built almost 50 years ago on the bottom of the former Zuiderzee. But how and why did this come about?
To accommodate the growing population of Amsterdam and the surrounding area, it was decided at the end of the 19th century to dam and drain the Zuiderzee. It took almost 100 years but the result was the province of Flevoland with Almere as its beating heart. Almere is a constantly developing city and you’ll find places here that are unique in the Netherlands. It’s a surprisingly different city with something for everyone, from modern architecture to beautiful beaches!
The connection with the sea, the water and everything around it is still tangible in Almere. Consisting of 47% water with a 42-kilometre-long coastline and nine city beaches, it’s an ideal destination for water sports enthusiasts. Why not hire a boat on the Weerwater and admire the skyline of Almere from the water? There are also plenty of other activities on offer, such as stand-up paddle boarding or canoeing at SEC Almere, windsurfing at Sail Today or sailing at Haddock Watersport.
© Richard Terborg
'Discover Almere: the open-air museum of modern architecture!'
© Almere City Marketing
Almere is home to many different nature reserves. The Oostvaardersplassen, part of the Nieuw Land National Park, is located in Almere's backyard. It’s a great place for walking and cycling or to join an excursion through the area. Animal lovers have a good chance of spotting red deer, various bird species, Heck cattle and even some Konik horses.
Pop into The Oostvaarders Pavilion during your visit for some lunch or a high tea with a beautiful view of the area. Want to explore more green spaces? Then head to the Kemphaan city estate in the middle of the Almouderhout forest area. Discover various walking and cycling routes or have an adventure! Go climbing at Klimpark Fun Forest, spot special animals at Almere Jungle or spend the night at the De Kemphaan nature camping site.
© Roxanne Overdijk
See the city like a local
© Richard Terborg
Almere is often called the number one open-air museum of modern architecture. Within the space of a square kilometre in the city centre, you can admire the architecture of world-famous and renowned designers such as Rem Koolhaas, René van Zuuk, Herman Hertzberger and many more.
But there is also plenty of architecture to admire outside the city centre. For example, the Eilandenbuurt in Almere Buiten is home to the special 'Wanted Living' project with boldly designed houses full of character. The Regenboog neighbourhood has the 'Rooie Donders', remarkable buildings designed by Liesbeth van der Pol.
Here’s a fun fact: if you’re a sheep in the Schaapskooi in the Vroege Vogel Forest, you’re a lucky sheep indeed. The Schaapskooi won an international architecture prize years ago and it’s an interesting place to visit.
© Geert van der Wijk
Discover the taste of Almere
© S. de Zwijger
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The Belfort: Almere’s hospitality square
The place to go for a break while shopping in Almere’s city centre or at the end of a pleasant day of sightseeing. Enjoy the different flavours of the world, from Italian to authentic Indonesian cuisine and from Greek mezedes to Korean barbecue.
Read more onvisitalmere.com
© Roxanne Overdijk
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Organic Farmers’ Market
Every Saturday, many Almere locals flock to the Organic Farmers’ Market to do their shopping. They know it’s a great place to get organic, fresh and locally sourced produce!
Read more onvisitalmere.com
© Almere City Marketing
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Beer factory
Make yourself at home at the Bierfabriek in Almere. Tap your own beers at the tap table and enjoy delicious free-range chicken from the charcoal barbecue. Check the agenda to find out when DJs turn the Bierfabriek into the Nachtfabriek (night factory).
Read more onbierfabriek.com
© Richard Terborg
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Eating out with kids
It should come as no surprise that a vibrant, young city like Almere has plenty of child-friendly restaurants. Here’s a list of the best children's menus and the best playgrounds.
Read more onen.eet.nu
© Rosita's Almere
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Rosita’s
Do quesadillas, tacos and co*cktails sound like a proper fiesta? Then Mexican restaurant Rosita's is the place for you. Enjoy traditional Mexican dishes and tasty co*cktails in this atmospheric restaurant. ¡Vamos!
Read more onalmerecentrum.nl
Sustainable
The newest city in the Netherlands
The newest city in the Netherlands
© Richard Terborg
Sustainability and green spaces are obviously unmissable themes in a young, fast-growing city that is in full development. You’ll find remarkable nature areas, parks, lots of woods and water everywhere. Almere is a truly green city! Want to experience this for yourself? Hire an (electric) bicycle or electric sloop and explore the city via one of the many fun routes. In addition to the beauty of nature, there are also special hotspots and sustainable initiatives that will amaze you. A tour through the ecological district of Oosterwold is definitely recommended!
City and nature are ideally aligned in Almere. There are mountain bike trails, unique accommodation options, a climbing forest and many more great locations where you can enjoy nature. How about a B&B in a vineyard? Or head out on the water and participate in water sports all over the city. Go catamaran sailing on the IJmeer or wakeboarding on the Weerwater, in the middle of the city!
A real standout in the city is the ecological suburb De Buitenkans, where you can admire 55 colourful houses with architecture inspired by the theories of anthroposophist Rudolf Steiner. He believed that organic architecture, with many oblique lines, brought cosmic inspiration.
© Almere City Marketing
Organic architecture
Steiner's theories resulted in a colourful scene in which no house is straight. Rooms are never rectangular and roofs have sloping lines. These roofs are planted with sedum and collect rainwater, which eventually ends up in a central pond where reeds provide water purification.
Green tips in Almere
© Almere City Marketing
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Oostvaardersplassen
The Oostvaardersplassen is a wonderful place to relax and unwind. Cycle or walk through this special nature reserve or go on an excursion in a cool ecocar or buggy. You can get an even better view of the area with binoculars at the De Oostvaarders Nature Experience Centre.
Read more onnationaalparknieuwland.nl
© Feenstra Fotografie
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Oosterwold
The new Oosterwold district is unique in the Netherlands and the surrounding area. Here you can build your own house with just a few rules, with pioneering and sustainability as key factors.
Read more onarchitour.nl
© Richard Terborg
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Indoor Mountain Biking
Unique in Europe: a fully covered 4 km indoor mountain bike trail built in a glass greenhouse. Remarkable, sporty and very sustainable.
Read more onvisitalmere.com
© Richard Terborg
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Electric sloops
A city that’s almost 50% made up of water must be seen from the water. Take an electric sloop to see Almere from a completely different angle in a sustainable way. Board the boat from the jetty on the Esplanade in Almere city centre or start your tour from the wide Noorderplassen.
Read more onvisitalmere.com
© Almere City Marketing
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Sustainable places in Almere
Discover the most sustainable addresses in Ally. From vegan hotspots to organic markets, they’re really worth a visit.
Read more onwww-visitalmere-com.translate.goog
Hidden gems
Enjoy the beach life
Enjoy the beach life
© Richard Terborg
Dunes covered with tufts of dune grass and an expansive beach with a view over the IJmeer lake: it’s another side of Almere! In the unique DUIN district in Almere Poort, the residents enjoy the true beach life. The district has beautiful homes, trendy hospitality establishments and great water sports activities. A visit here is a great day out!
The Almeerder beach is the widest beach in Almere and the largest catamaran beach in Europe. It is the best place to relax and cool down on a sultry summer day. With various water sports providers established around the beach, you can learn to paddle board, sail a catamaran or kitesurf with the beautiful skyline of Amsterdam and the IJmeer in the background. A truly unforgettable experience.
© Almere City Marketing
Almere beach life
© Roxanne Overdijk
Of course you can also relax at a cosy beach bar such as Poortdok. A little further on, within walking distance of the beach, is the welcoming brasserie Zuyder where you can enjoy tasty dishes and soak up the beachy vibe from morning to evening. Looking for a unique overnight stay on the water? At Marina Parcs, you can drift off to sleep in a water bubble. Enjoy the theatre? Vis à Vis theatre spectacle is located right next to the Almeerder beach. Here you can watch special and varying theatre performances in the open air.
© Almere City Marketing
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The Green Cathedral
A new city needs a cathedral, thought Marinus Boezem. The result? The Green Cathedral: a cathedral formed by a group of Italian poplars. It is part of Land Art Flevoland, which is a series of landscape artworks in the polder. This work of art is located on the Kathedralenpad in Almere and it is free to visit.
Read more onlandartflevoland.nl
© Visit Flevoland
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La Defense
The architectural wonder La Defense, just outside the city centre of Almere, is a real hidden gem. From the outside it looks like any old office building but, thanks to the special foils in the windows that reflect the sunlight, an explosion of colour awaits you in the courtyard. It’s a popular photo spot in Almere.
Read more onvisitalmere.com
© Almere City Marketing
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Almere Boven
Enjoy far-reaching views over the polder from the highest hill in Flevoland: Almere Boven. Follow the spiralling path up to 100 feet to be rewarded with a beautiful panoramic view over the forests of the Almeerderhout.
Read more onroutiq.com
© Richard Terborg
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Eco*kar Oostvaardersplassen
Want to spot the Almere Big 5? Join an excursion through the Oostvaardersplassen in an Eco*kar. You’ll be accompanied by a guide from Staatsbosbeheer forestry service who will tell you all about the origins of this area. Don't wear bright colours or perfume, so you can blend in with nature as much as possible.
Read more onnationaalparknieuwland.nl
© Almere City Marketing
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B&B Life Contains Beautiful Things
Just imagine yourself with a glass of wine in your hand while sitting next to a crackling fire with a view of the grape vines. No, it’s not France. You’re in Almere! The atmospheric Life Contains Beautiful Things offers you complete relaxation.
Read more onlcbt.nl
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