Sloeproute Almere: Man-made land

Description

Board and enjoy (node 73)
The sloop is waiting for you, all you have to do is board and enjoy. Sail by yourself, or lean back and let a skipper do the work while you feast on the luxurious picnic basket. The routes around Almere are a great introduction to new nature and architecture.

La Isla Bonita (junction 50)
From the starting point, restaurant De Kapitein, you sail straight onto de Noorderplassen. Here you will find a wealth of protected nature around the water. When you cast off, you pass La Isla Bonita, or The Beautiful Island. In this small nature reserve, you will see heck cattle grazing on the peninsula, sometimes wading through the water right in front of your boat. And all this close to the city centre - the high-rise buildings of Almere Centrum stand out beautifully against the background. That is where you will soon be sailing to.

Beatrixpark (junction 28)
From the Koning Willem-Alexanderwetering you sail to the Beatrix Lock. Further on, you come across another lock. Very nice: at these self-service locks, you set the locking process in motion yourself by pressing a button. It's all completely automatic. Sail calmly into the lock like an experienced skipper or moor at the waiting pier until the light turns green.

When the lock gates open before you, you sail into the green oasis of Beatrixpark. With its many little bridges, it feels like a modern version of Giethoorn. Names like Krijgertjebrug, Wipbrug and Touwspringbrug reveal that this is the domain of playing children. Along the wide promenade, it's great strolling in your sloop. Enjoy people-watching and being watched. This is the place to moor for a picnic. Take in the playground or midgetgolf Almere.

Growing Green Cities (node 13)
The Olstgracht takes you deeper into the city. Near the Pier, you sail onto het Weerwater. Suddenly you see the imposing Floriade grounds in their full glory. The Floriade World Horticultural Expo on the theme of Growing Green Cities took place here in 2022. Moor at beach pavilion Strand 22 on the Esplanade, enjoy a snack and a drink and take a stroll around the grounds. Rather just cruise by? Then moor at the small harbour near De Fantasie.
TIP: go waterskiing or wakeboarding at Cablepark VIEW Almere!

>> Junction 83 <<
Here you can choose: will it be city or nature? The route through the city introduces you to Almere's inspiring architecture (follow junction 31). Or go outside, across the Lange Wetering. Here you will discover Kasteel Almere, water inhabitants and water industry (follow nodes 77, 39, 17).

Bold design (Junction 31)
Now sail into the Film District. Here, architects have been challenged to make their wildest dreams come true. You will see bold building styles, but also innovative building processes, materials and techniques. The Filmwijk is a model district for innovation in housing construction.

Space for green
As you sail under Veluwedreef, you are suddenly in the green surroundings of Ebenezer Howard Park. You have arrived in Parkwijk. The streets in this green neighbourhood are named after trees, plants, parks and fruits. Enjoy the view and move along ripplingly to the next neighbourhood.

Once you pass the railway, you enter the Resistance Quarter. Here the street names are a nice tribute to Dutch resistance fighters from World War II. Passing under the Vrijheidsdreef, you pass the Bos der Onverzettelijken. There is one tree for every resistance fighter who gave his or her life.

Nearby, you enter the Leeghwaterplas. From the boat, you really experience the vastness. On the starboard side (right), the second and last lock of this route appears: the Leeghwater lock. After passing through the lock, you can moor at the jetty for a walk. At junction 22, turn onto the Hoge Vaart (continue the route description at junction 22).

Almeerderhout (Junctions 77, 39, 17)
Via Junctions 77, you cruise towards the Almeerderhout Forest Reserve. Cross the Kromme Weteringsluis and enjoy all the greenery. The area consists of various woods and there are even beavers. From the sloop, you might even see beaver tracks. Moor for a while in the havenkom of Recreatieterrein Waterlandse bos. Take a stroll or play ball on the large grass field. At the junction at junction 39, turn onto the Lange Wetering towards junction 17.

Castle and woonboten
A little further on, an unusual sight looms on the port side (left): Kasteel Almere, the youngest ruin in the Netherlands. After the viaduct, you are surprised by a variety of waterfront houses. These houses on the water form a cheerful whole with their varying sizes, architectural styles and interiors. Which is your favourite?

Special houseboats
Arriving at the Hoge Vaart (junction 17), you sail towards junction 22. Keep to starboard (right) here, you may encounter freight traffic on this canal. On your journey towards de Noorderplassen, you will pass an unusual harbour on Escherpad, in the Tussen de Vaarten district. You will see about twenty (cargo) ships that are permanently inhabited. The housing shortage in the 1990s made creative: each resident here owns a piece of water and a little garden with a shed.

Bos der Onverzettelijken
You cruise under the Vrijheidsdreef past the Bos der Onverzettelijken of Bos der Onverzettelijken. This forest is a national monument to freedom. A tree has been planted for each resistance fighter, a total of 2,142. You have now arrived at junction 22.

Below sea level (junction 22, 88, 71 if necessary continue to junction 51)
From here set course for de Noorderplassen. In the canal, watch out for shipping traffic and keep to the starboard side (right). At the end of this canal you will find the gemaal De Blocq van Kuffeler, with the lock of the same name providing access to the Markermeer. Got the time? Have a 5-metre lift in the lock to experience the difference in water level! Flevoland was created by pumping dry a part of the former Zuiderzee, everything was built on the former seabed. At the pumping station, this difference in height is easy to see.

Treasure hunt on islets (node 24, 19, 81, 50, 73)
Once back on de Noorderplassen, you sail past islets with names such as Treasure Island, Mutineer Island, Pirate Island and Pirate Island. The story goes that pirates used to call the shots on the water when the wild Zuiderzee was still churning here. With children, you can have fun adventures here, more somewhere to explore. Or grab a terrace before taking the sloop back to the starting point. Brasserie Tien (near camping Waterhout on Schateiland), Boathouse or De Kapitein are great places to enjoy a nice day on the water.