Youngest city in the Netherlands
Read Almere's story here.
History of Almere
A young city with an age-old story
Almere is officially the youngest city in the Netherlands, but its soil tells a much older story. Underneath the modern districts lie traces of prehistoric hunters, centuries of struggle against the water and the largest land reclamation in Dutch history. This page takes you from prehistoric times to the future: how Almere became what it is today.
From primeval landscape to Zuiderzee (before the 20th century)
Long before Almere became a city, this area had a long history of rise and fall. Prehistoric hunters moved through a landscape of rivers, forest and swamp. Archaeological finds show that people lived here thousands of years ago. From the Middle Ages, storm tides and peat excavations dramatically changed the area. The Aelmere Lake, mentioned in sources as early as the 8th and 9th centuries, slowly grew into the Zuiderzee as a result of floods. For centuries, present-day Almere was completely under water. It became an important sailing area for fishermen and trading ships, but habitation was impossible. Consequently, many shipwrecks have been found in Almere. Only in the 20th century would the land reappear - thanks to one of the largest hydraulic engineering projects in the world.
The Zuiderzee Works (1901-1968)
Almere's history takes a decisive turn in the 20th century. After the severe flood disaster of 1916 and food crisis during World War I, it is decided to close off the Zuiderzee and create new polders. This marks the beginning of the Zuiderzee Works, one of the largest hydraulic engineering projects in the world. With the construction of the Afsluitdijk in 1932, the Zuiderzee turns into the IJsselmeer. New polders are designed to grow more food as well as provide space for housing and economic growth. The land under Almere slowly rises again between 1959 and 1968. De Blocq van Kuffeler (see photo) played a leading role in this. In 7 months, 1 million cubic metres of water were pumped out by this pumping station. An enormous plain of fertile clay emerged - a blank page on which history could be written.
First inhabitants of Almere (1975)
After reclamation, the area is managed by engineers and pioneers who investigate where to build cities, forests and farmland. The idea soon arises to build an entirely new city here, intended to relieve pressure on the Randstad. The name Almere is again chosen - a reference to the medieval lake that once lay here. In 1975, the first piles were driven for Almere Haven, the first city district. The first residents lived in the Bivak, where there were eight wooden temporary houses. Wim Leeman (pictured) is one of those first residents. These pioneers ended up in an environment where little was still standing: wide open spaces, young trees, dirt roads. The pioneer feeling of that time still lives on in the city's identity.
Construction of the city (1961-1976)
The plans for Almere began several years earlier, with the first plans for Almere and Lelystad being made in 1961. The RIJP (Rijksdienst voor de IJsselmeerpolders) established Projektburo Almere in 1971. The people of Projektburo Almere were also known as the Peetouders, and together these 2 organisations built Almere. They chose to build a multi-core city. So not one city core with suburbs, but a city with separate cores that would each have their own character.
Discover the city districts
The first official houses (1976)
The first houses were completed in 1976. The families who move here are real pioneers, like Lia and Henk de Clerk (see video). There are only a few streets, hardly any shops, lots of sand and above all: silence and space. The wind has free rein, trees have yet to grow and the horizon is endless. Yet it is precisely in this emptiness that a strong sense of community emerges. Residents help each other, make plans together for neighbourhood associations and work to get amenities.
Facilities and meeting places (since 1976)
Almere Haven soon took on more structure. For everything came a first time. De Roef became the first meeting place, where the pioneers came together (see photo). There was also a supermarket, primary school, begraafplaats, residential care centre and much more. As the years progressed, Almere Haven acquired its own identity: warm, cosy and small-scale, with plenty of attention to greenery and water. Where Almere Stad will later become modern and metropolitan, Haven will deliberately remain intimate and special in scale.
Almere City (as of 1978)
In the 1980s, the construction of Almere Stad, the centre area of the new city, started. Here, Almere takes on a different character: contemporary, spacious and with experimental architecture.
Important steps in this period:
- Construction of het Weerwater, which later became a central point in the city
- Construction of the first flat blocks and shopping facilities
- Plans for a modern city centre with international architects
Almere Stad is the urban heart that Almere Haven deliberately did not want to be - and that contrast makes the city unique.
Almere Buiten (as of 1983)
As Almere continues to grow, a new generation of neighbourhoods is emerging. Planners are using the space to try out innovative concepts, focusing on diversity and affordability. Known for its colourful architecture, such as the Regenboogbuurt, and spacious layout. Almere Buiten is becoming a neighbourhood where nature and creativity take centre stage, with highlights including the Oostvaardersplassen and the Regenboogbuurt .
Almere Poort & Duin (as of 2006)
From 2000, Almere accelerates again and new districts give the city an adventurous, modern identity. In Almere Poort, special residential concepts arise, such as DUIN: a unique, artificial dune landscape. Meanwhile, Almere continues to grow towards the future, with sustainable area developments, innovative mobility solutions and continued attention to greenery and quality of life.
Almere Hout (from 2010)
This district in very spacious and rural. Large plots of land and lots of space for greenery made this part of Almere feel slightly different from the other districts. In terms of surface area, it is even the largest district, while having the lowest population density. Well-known areas include Vogelhorst, Nobelhorst and Stadslandgoed de Kemphaan (recreation). The start of the unique Oosterwold district only began in 2016, and Oosterwold is now developing as a radical new residential area where residents decide how to build, live and work together - an experiment that is attracting worldwide attention.
Almere grows as a mature city (2010-2025)
During this period, Almere is developing strongly as a modern, green and cultural city. Almere Centrum continues to expand with new architecture and facilities, while districts such as Poort, Hout and Buiten expand considerably. The city is increasingly focusing on sustainable area development, innovative housing concepts and strengthening nature and recreation. The population is growing towards 220,000 inhabitants and Almere is acquiring an increasingly prominent role within the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area.
Almere 50 years!
In 2025-2026, Almere will celebrate its 50th anniversary. The anniversary year started on 29 November 2025. On 1 December 1975, 50 years later, the first eight wooden houses were placed in Almere Haven. The jubilee year runs until 30 November 2026, the day the first official residents received their keys. The municipal executive committee has proposed a festive celebration with, for and by all Almere residents, supported by the municipality. An anniversary fund will be set up to support new and existing initiatives in the city.
Mayor Hein van der Loo emphasises the importance of the jubilee: "Almereans make the jubilee! We already see wonderful ideas emerging. The municipality is going to encourage and support those ideas. In a form that suits our tight purse and does justice to the unique story of our city of which we are so incredibly proud." The anniversary provides an opportunity to strengthen the sense of community and propagate pride in Almere as a unique city, both to its own residents and to the rest of the Netherlands. Residents are encouraged to think along and share ideas for the celebration of this special anniversary.
See the Almere celebrates 50 page
Almere and the future
The city still has many ambitions. For instance, plans are now being drawn up for a completely new city district: Almere Pampus. And a lot will change in and around Almere Centrum as well. For instance, a High Tech Campus is coming up and the construction of Windesheim's campus has started. Almere has the potential to grow into the fifth largest city in the Netherlands (based on population).
