Almere
Almere | |
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Skyline with the Weerwater | |
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![]() Location in Flevoland | |
Coordinates:52°22′N5°13′E/ 52.367°N 5.217°E | |
Country | Netherlands |
Province | Flevoland |
Region | Amsterdam metropolitan area |
Government | |
• Body | Municipal council |
•Mayor | Hein van der Loo(Ind.) |
Area | |
• Total | 248.77 km2(96.05 sq mi) |
• Land | 129.19 km2(49.88 sq mi) |
• Water | 119.58 km2(46.17 sq mi) |
Elevation | −3 m (−10 ft) |
Population (January 2021)[4] | |
• Total | 214,715 |
• Density | 1,662/km2(4,300/sq mi) |
Demonym | Almeerder |
Time zone | UTC+1(CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2(CEST) |
Postcode | 1300–1379 |
Area code | 036 |
Website | www |
![]() | |
Click on the map for a fullscreen view |
Almere(Dutch pronunciation:[ɑlˈmeːrə] ) is aplannedcityandmunicipalityin theprovinceofFlevoland,Netherlandsacross theIJmeerfromAmsterdam.
BorderingLelystadandZeewolde,the municipality of Almere comprises six official areas[5]that are the districts ofAlmere Stad(which is further split up into Almere Stad Oost, Almere Stad West and Almere Centrum),Almere Buitenand Almere Pampus (which is currently being designed),[6]and the boroughs ofAlmere Haven,Almere Hout andAlmere Poort.Four of them feature official district or borough offices.[7]Furthermore, it also comprises the unofficial historic district and neighborhood Oostvaardersdiep.[8][9]Almere is part of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (MRA).
Almere is the newest city in the Netherlands:[10]the land on which the city sits, the Southern Flevolandpolder,was reclaimedfrom theIJsselmeerfrom 1959 to 1968. The first house was finished in 1976, and Almere became a municipality in 1984. It has the largest population of the municipalities in Flevoland with 214,715 citizens in 2021 and the 8th largest in the Netherlands. In October 2007, the city council of Almere made agreements with the government to expand the city to 350,000 inhabitants by 2030.[11][12]
History
[edit]The original plans for theIJsselmeerpolderssaw the land being used for agriculture. However, afterWorld War IIhousing was needed for the rapidly growing population ofAmsterdamand two towns were planned in the polders Oostelijk Flevoland and Zuidelijk Flevoland. The town in Oostelijk Flevoland becameLelystad.The town in Zuidelijk Flevoland was still called Zuidweststad (English: South West City) on the first sketches, but in the 1970s it became calledAlmere,named after the lakeAlmere,the early medieval name of theZuiderzee.The first house in Almere was finished in 1976. At that time the town was still controlled by theOpenbaar Lichaam Zuidelijke IJsselmeerpolders(Z.IJ.P.), with aLanddrost.In 1984 Almere became an official municipality. Originally, Almere was envisioned as a town with multiple centres. This idea was later abandoned in favor of allowing neighbourhoods like Tussen de Vaarten to be built. There is also a difference between the way houses are built in the oldest and the newest parts of the city. The housing plan in Almere in the 1970s was basic functionality and a levelling of social status. However, starting in the 1990s more exclusive homes with striking designs were built (notably in the Regenboogbuurt).
Governance
[edit]Local executive
[edit]Hein van der Loo (independent) has been mayor of Almere since March 2023, with themunicipal councilconsisting of acoalitionof several parties.[13]
List of mayors
[edit]- 1984–1986: Han Lammers (PvdA)
- 1986–1993: Cees de Cloe (PvdA)
- 1993–1994: Cees Roozemond (PvdA,acting)
- 1994–1998: Ralph Pans (PvdA)
- 1998–2003: Hans Ouwerkerk (PvdA)
- 2003–2003: Jaap van der Doef (PvdA,acting)
- 2003–2015:Annemarie Jorritsma(VVD)
- 2015–2022:Franc Weerwind(D66)
- 2022–2023:Ank Bijleveld(CDA,acting)
- 2023-current: Hein van der Loo (independent)
Municipal council
[edit]The first municipal council was installed on 2 January 1984 in the presence of the then-Minister of the InteriorKoos Rietkerk.The council elections took place on 21 September 1983. Prior to 1984 Almere had anAdviesraad,which was chosen every 2 years (1978–1980, 1980–1982, 1982–1984). ThisAdviesraadwas made up of different political parties similar to a local council. On 11 March 1977 the firstadviescommissiewas elected. It consisted of 5 people that were chosen on personal title. Since 2018, the council of Almere has comprised a total of 45 members.
Party | 1984 | 1986 | 1990 | 1994 | 1998 | 2002 | 2006 | 2010 | 2014 | 2018 | 2022 [14] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
People's Party for Freedom & Democracy | 5 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 6 |
Labour Party | 10 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
Party for Freedom | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9 | 9 | 6 | 5 |
Democrats 66 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
GroenLinks | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Leefbaar Almere | - | - | - | - | - | 9 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Socialist Party | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
Party for the Animals | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 3 |
Christian Union | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Christian Democratic Appeal | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Almere Partij/OPA | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Respect Almere | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
Trots op Nederland | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - |
Verenigde Senioren Partij | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
Stadspartij Almere | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
Centrumdemocraten | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Stap '84 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
BIJ1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
50PLUS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
Forum for Democracy | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
DENK | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
Total | 23 | 27 | 33 | 37 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 45 | 45 |
International relations
[edit]Twin cities
[edit]Almere maintainsinternational relationswith the followingtwin cities:[15][16]
Geography
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Satellite_image_of_Flevopolder%2C_Netherlands_%285.48E_52.43N%29.png/170px-Satellite_image_of_Flevopolder%2C_Netherlands_%285.48E_52.43N%29.png)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Almere-plaats-OpenTopo.jpg/170px-Almere-plaats-OpenTopo.jpg)
Almere is located in thepolderofSouthern Flevoland(Dutch:Zuidelijk Flevoland). It is the most western municipality of the provinceFlevoland.It borders withMarkermeerin the west and north,Lelystadin the northeast,Zeewoldein the east, andGooimeerin the south.
Almere consists of three boroughs and three districts (Dutch:stadsdelen), three of which are under construction.[18]
Name | Year[19] | Location |
---|---|---|
Almere Haven('Almere Harbor') | 1976 | |
Almere Stad('Almere City') | 1980 | |
Almere Buiten('Outer Almere') | 1984 | |
Almere Hout ('Almere Woods') | 1991 | |
Almere Poort('Almere Gate') | 2000 | |
Almere Pampus | To be constructed |
Climate
[edit]Almere has anoceanic climatecharacterized by mild to cool winters, and warm summers with fair precipitation year-round.
Climate data for Almere | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 4.9 (40.8) |
5.5 (41.9) |
8.2 (46.8) |
9.6 (49.3) |
16.2 (61.2) |
19.3 (66.7) |
20.8 (69.4) |
21.0 (69.8) |
18.5 (65.3) |
14.2 (57.6) |
8.9 (48.0) |
5.9 (42.6) |
12.8 (55.0) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.2 (36.0) |
2.5 (36.5) |
4.8 (40.6) |
6.7 (44.1) |
11.9 (53.4) |
14.9 (58.8) |
16.5 (61.7) |
16.6 (61.9) |
14.3 (57.7) |
10.6 (51.1) |
6.1 (43.0) |
3.4 (38.1) |
9.2 (48.6) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.4 (31.3) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
1.5 (34.7) |
3.8 (38.8) |
7.6 (45.7) |
10.5 (50.9) |
12.3 (54.1) |
12.2 (54.0) |
10.1 (50.2) |
7.1 (44.8) |
3.4 (38.1) |
0.9 (33.6) |
5.7 (42.3) |
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 68.0 (2.68) |
47.0 (1.85) |
59.0 (2.32) |
45.0 (1.77) |
53.0 (2.09) |
62.0 (2.44) |
75.0 (2.95) |
77.0 (3.03) |
76.0 (2.99) |
80.0 (3.15) |
78.0 (3.07) |
76.0 (2.99) |
838.2 (33.00) |
Source: climatedata.org (1981–2010 normals)[20] |
Demography
[edit]Inhabitants by origin
[edit]2017 | Numbers | % |
---|---|---|
Dutch origin | 118,944 | 54.31 |
Other European origin | 17,380 | 10.91 |
Non-European origin | 64,590 | 32.93 |
Suriname[21] | 22,772 | 11.33 |
Morocco | 7,871 | 3.92 |
Indonesia | 5,981 | 2.98 |
Netherlands AntillesandAruba | 4,955 | 2.47 |
Turkey | 3,572 | 1.78 |
Others | 36,819 | 11.50 |
Total population
[edit]Year | Almere Haven | Almere Stad | Almere Buiten | Almere Hout | Almere Poort | Almere Pampus | Almere in total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1970 | 52 | ||||||
1975 | 47 | ||||||
1980 | 6,596 | 6,632 | |||||
1985 | 21,410 | 17,240 | 1,559 | 40,297 | |||
1990 | 22,355 | 37,024 | 11,499 | 71,087 | |||
1995 | 22,376 | 58,816 | 22,740 | 564 | 104,496 | ||
2000 | 22,237 | 83,934 | 35,290 | 1,336 | 142,797 | ||
2005 | 22,590 | 103,560 | 47,358 | 1,366 | 175,008 | ||
2007 | 22,507 | 105,261 | 51,751 | 1,345 | 134 | 180,998 | |
2016 | 22,037 | 109,863 | 55,663 | 1,678 | 10,920 | 200,812 | |
2024 | 24,571 | 110,946 | 58,481 | 11,510 | 22,848 | 4 | 228,360 |
Culture
[edit]On 19 May 2004, at the instigation ofKees Kousemaker,owner of the Amsterdam comics storeLambiek,the first buildings of theStripheldenbuurtwere inaugurated in Almere. This is a district where all street names are named after famous comics characters and cartoonists.[22]
Sport
[edit]Almere is the home offootballteamAlmere City FC,American football team FlevoPhantoms and the home of professional basketball team theAlmere Sailors.
Transport
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Scouwburg_Almere.jpg/220px-Scouwburg_Almere.jpg)
The traffic infrastructure in Almere is recognisable because of its separate infrastructure for cycles (which, in most cases, have separate cycle paths), cars and buses (the buses drive on a separate bus lane in most parts of the city). Almere is connected to the motorwaysA6andA27.
Railway
[edit]In 1987 Almere was connected to the national railway system (see NS) with the fully completed Flevolijnwhich connectedWeesptoLelystad Centrum.
Almere currently has six railway stations:
- Almere Poort(opened December 9, 2012)
- Almere Muziekwijk(opened May 30, 1987)
- Almere Centrum(opened May 30, 1987)
- Almere Parkwijk(opened on February 1, 1996)
- Almere Buiten(opened May 30, 1987)
- Almere Oostvaarders(opened December 12, 2004)
A seasonal-use station,Almere Strand,was set up for certain events, such as Libelle Zomerweek. The station was made up of iron platforms. It was opened in May 1996 under the nameMuiderzand.The station was closed after June 1996 but re-opened in June 1999 under the nameMuiderstrandand closed again in July 1999. It re-opened again in 2001 under the nameAlmere Strandas an official seasonal-use station, meaning it was now open certain seasons every year. Because of the rapid development of the adjacent borough Almere Poort, it was decided to open an official station there (seeAlmere Poort), thus making the station of Almere Strand obsolete. Almere Poort station opened on December 9, 2012. Therefore, Almere Strand station was officially closed just after the summer of 2012 and its iron platforms were torn down in the weekend of October 6–7, 2012.[23]There are no remains of the station, although passengers can still see where the platforms once stood from the windows of Flevolijn trains.[clarification needed]
Public buses
[edit]Local bus lines
[edit]In Almere there are 11 bus lines which service the urban area.
Line # | Route | Notes |
---|---|---|
M1 | Almere Centrum Station – Almere Haven De Marken or Almere Haven De Gouwen – Almere Haven Centrum | Runs every 5 minutes Mon-Fri during daytime hours (every 7.5–15 minutes on evenings and Sundays). The bus line changes into M2 at Almere Centrum |
M2 | Almere Centrum Station – Almere Buiten station - Almere Oostvaarders station - Almere Stripheldenbuurt | Runs every 5 minutes Mon-Fri during daytime hours (every 7.5–15 minutes on evenings and Sundays). The bus line changes into M1 at Almere Centrum |
M3 | Almere Centrum Station - Almere Beatrixpark - Almere Muziekwijk | Runs every 5 minutes Mon-Fri during daytime hours (every 7.5–15 minutes on evenings and Sundays). |
M4 | Almere Centrum Station – Almere Literatuurwijk – Almere Gooisekant-West – Almere Poort Homeruskwartier – Almere Poort Station | Runs every 5 minutes Mon-Fri during daytime hours (every 7.5–15 minutes on evenings and Sundays). |
M5 | Almere Centrum station - Almere Filmwijk - Almere Danswijk - Almere Parkwijk station | Runs every 5 minutes Mon-Fri during daytime hours (every 7.5–15 minutes on evenings and Sundays). |
M6 | Almere Centrum Station – Noorderplassen | Runs every 7 minutes Mon-Fri (every 15 minutes on Saturdays and every 30 minutes on Sundays). |
M7 | Almere Centrum station - Almere Parkwijk station - Almere Buiten station - Almere Oostvaarders station | Runs every 5 minutes Mon-Fri during daytime hours (every 7.5–15 minutes on evenings and Sundays). |
22 | Almere De Vaart/PIA – Almere Buiten Station | Mon-Fri only; does not run on evenings and weekends. Has 2 request stops |
24 | Almere Poort Station - Almere Duin | Only on Mon-Fri in rush hours. During the summer months also on weekends |
25 | Almere Sallandsekant - Almere Nobelhorst | Only on Mon-Fri in rush hours |
525 | Almere Sallandsekant – Almere Nobelhorst | Mon-Sat outside rush hours only |
Monday to Friday, most city buses run about every 5 minutes (10 times every hour) during daytime hours. Saturdays, only a few city bus lines run every 7.5 minutes during daytime hours; most of them run every 12–15 minutes. Sunday, most of the city buses run every 15 minutes (with some buses running extra runs during certain hours) and M6 which only runs every 30 minutes.
There are a few overnight bus lines (Mon-Sat nights only): N21, N22 and N23. They run under the Keolis internal name nightGo (but are operated byR-netbranded regional buses).
The bus company running almost all buses is Keolis Netherlands. Local buses (city buses) run under the name allGo. In the buses one can use thenational transportation chipcard (smart card),subscriptions or one can buy bus tickets of allGo in the bus or at TVM's (the latter only Downtown).
Regional bus lines
[edit]Besides the local bus lines, there are regional and rush hour bus lines to towns and cities in the area.
Line | Route | Notes |
---|---|---|
323 | Almere Parkwijk station - Almere Poort Station – Muiden P+R -Amsterdam Bijlmer | Mon-Fri between 5.30 AM and 10.30 AM and between 14.00 PM until the end of the day. Sat only after 18.00 PM and Sun all day long.[24] |
324 | Almere Parkwijk Station – Almere Filmwijk -Amsterdam Bijlmer | Mon-Fri, rush hours-only, express bus without stops in Amsterdam |
326 | Almere Centrum Station – Busstation 't Oor – Almere De Kemphaan – Blaricum Carpoolplaats | Mon-Fri only; does not run on evenings and weekends. |
159 | Almere Centrum Station – Almere Veluwsekant – Almere De Kemphaan – Almere Hout –Zeewolde–Harderwijk | Mon-Fri only; does not run on evenings and weekends. The last two buses of the day terminate halfway at Zeewolde Kwartiermakerslaan. Closed-system in Almere. |
160 | Almere Centrum Station – Busstation 't Oor – Almere De Kemphaan –ZeewoldeDe Eemhof –AmersfoortVathorst Station | Runs 7 days a week, but only every 2 hours and only between 10 AM-10:30 PM. This bus is actually part of the OV Regio IJsselmond concession, but Keolis operates it under contract with Syntus Overijssel-branded buses.[25] |
322 | Almere Parkwijk Station – Almere Flevoziekenhuis – Almere Gooisepoort – Almere Poort Station –MuidenP+R –DiemenDiemerknoop –Amsterdam Amstel | Is allowed to use the emergency lanes on the highway parts of the route to manoeuvre past traffic jams. |
327 | Almere Haven Centrum – Busstation 't Oor – Muiden P+R – Diemen Diemerknoop –Amsterdam Amstel | Is allowed to use the emergency lanes on the highway parts of the route to manoeuvre past traffic jams. |
328 | Almere Haven Centrum – Busstation 't Oor – Muiden P+R – Diemen Diemerknoop –Amsterdam Bijlmer | Closed-system in Amsterdam. Is allowed to use the emergency lanes on the highway parts of the route to manoeuvre past traffic jams. |
Line 159 is operated by the bus companyConnexxion.
Since April 2012, there was a rush hour route, 150, toUtrechtwhich connected Almere directly with the University Area of Utrecht calledDe Uithof.(This was previously done by former bus line 295[26]). Due to budget cuts, line 150 was scrapped on July 9, 2016.[27]
Notable residents
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Rob_Verlinden.jpg/140px-Rob_Verlinden.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Krajicek_M._WMQ16_%2811%29_%2828107246912%29.jpg/140px-Krajicek_M._WMQ16_%2811%29_%2828107246912%29.jpg)
- Rob Verlinden(born 1950) Dutch gardener, TV presenter on gardening
- Annemarie Jorritsma(born 1950) politician and former mayor of Almere
- Bart van Leeuwen(1950 – 2017) Dutch photographer, author and radio DJ
- Jörgen Raymann(born 1966) cabaretier, stand-up comedian, actor, presenter and RTV host[28]
- Chris Jansen(born 1966) politician
- Raymzter(born 1979) rapper
- "Angerfist"(Danny Masseling, born 1981) producer and DJ
- Yfke Sturm(born 1981) international model[29]
- Ali B(born 1981) rapper, host/presenter, music label owner
- Alvaro(born 1987) Producer, DJ
- Pieter Elbers(born 1970) CEOKLM
Sport
[edit]- Frank Rijkaard(born 1962) football player and coach
- Remy Bonjasky(born 1976) kickboxer
- Maartje Scheepstra(born 1980) Dutch field hockey player, silver medallist at the2004 Summer Olympics
- Marco Piqué(born 1980) Dutch-Surinamese welterweight kickboxer
- Hedwiges Maduro(born 1985) football coach and former footballer with over 250 club caps
- Danny Holla(born 1987) footballer with over 300 club caps
- Michaëlla Krajicek(born 1989) Dutch tennis player
- Desiree van Lunteren(born 1992) Dutch footballer
- Niki Wories(born 1996) Dutch figure skater
- Sergiño Dest(born 2000) Dutch/American footballer
- Kevin Doets(born 1998) Dutch darts player
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Burgemeester Hein van der Loo".Gemeente Almere.Retrieved15 May2024.
- ^"Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2020"[Key figures for neighbourhoods 2020].StatLine(in Dutch).CBS.24 July 2020.Retrieved19 September2020.
- ^"Postcodetool for 1315HR".Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland(in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Archived fromthe originalon 21 September 2013.Retrieved1 September2013.
- ^"Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand"[Population growth; regions per month].CBS Statline(in Dutch).CBS.1 January 2021.Retrieved2 January2022.
- ^[email protected]."Stadsdelen - Over Almere - Gemeente Almere".www.almere.nl.
- ^"Pampus - Gebiedsontwikkeling - Gemeente Almere".almere20.almere.nl.
- ^[email protected]."Gebiedskantoren - Contact - Gemeente Almere".www.almere.nl.Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-07.Retrieved2016-03-03.
- ^"Het Oostvaardersdiep | Almere Buiten".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-05.Retrieved2016-02-29.
- ^"Oostvaardersdiep".oostvaardersdiep.net.
- ^Miller, Norman."The Dutch city testing the future of urban life".www.bbc.com.Retrieved2022-09-17.
- ^(in Dutch)Schaalsprong Almere 2030, PDF.Retrieved on 2008-06-09.
- ^(in Dutch)Feiten en cijfers over Almere,Almere.nl.
- ^"College van burgemeester en wethouders".Gemeente Almere.Retrieved15 May2024.
- ^"Almere municipal election 2022".verkiezingsuitslagen.nl(in Dutch). 16 March 2022.Retrieved15 May2024.
- ^(in Dutch)Gemeente Almere: Partnersteden.Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
- ^(in Dutch)Algemene InformatieArchived2004-09-10 atarchive.today.Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
- ^"Aalborg Twin Towns".Europeprize.net. Archived fromthe originalon 7 September 2013.Retrieved19 August2013.
- ^(in Dutch)Gemeente Almere: Stadsdelen.Retrieved on 2015-08-29.
- ^(in Dutch)Sociale Atlas 2007 Bevolkingsopbouw[dead link].Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
- ^ "Almere Climate Data 1981–2010".
- ^"CBS StatLine - Selecteren van gegevens".statline.cbs.nl.
- ^"The History of Lambiek (2003-2005)".
- ^"Archived copy".www.stationsweb.nl.Archived fromthe originalon 6 April 2022.Retrieved22 May2022.
{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"Lijn 323 Almere Station Parkwijk - Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA - OV in Nederland Wiki".
- ^"Lijn 160 Almere Station Centrum - Amersfoort Station Vathorst - OV in Nederland Wiki".
- ^"Lijn 295 Almere-Stad Station Centrum - Utrecht AZU - OV in Nederland Wiki".wiki.ovinnederland.nl.
- ^"Snelwegbus Utrecht-Almere stopt ermee - RTV Utrecht".www.rtvutrecht.nl.7 June 2016.
- ^IMDb Databaseretrieved 10 August 2019
- ^IMDb Databaseretrieved 10 August 2019
External links
[edit]- Gemeente Almere(official website)
- (in Dutch)Geheugen van Almere(people's stories about Almere)
- Oldest location in Almere