2012 - Silent march out of respect
On Monday 3 December, linesman Richard Nieuwenhuizen died after he had been abused by some youth players on the football pitch the day before. This event shocked the (sports) world and received a lot of media attention both nationally and internationally. A week after the fatal assault, on Sunday 9 December, a silent march for the deceased linesman was organised in Almere. This silent march - despite the cold and rain - attracted around 12,000 participants. Many children also walked along, whether or not in white-and-blue shirts - the colours of football club SC Buitenboys where Nieuwenhuizen was active as a volunteer.
Before the march, Richard's son Alain Nieuwenhuizen, among others, addressed the crowd: "Dear dad, you let your passion shine all over the football pitch. There was one thing you were against and that was a big mouth. Let alone senseless violence. We will miss you, daddy. Rest in peace. And let's remember one thing: in the Netherlands, senseless violence is never the last word."
The silent march made a deep impression. Also according to mayor Annemarie Jorritsma-Lebbink: "Thousands of Almonds, young and old, showed their sympathy in the pouring rain. With their presence, they made a clear statement. This led to the action 'No football without respect': clear rules that must be respected and propagated." This was followed on 20 March 2013 by a KNVB action plan 'Against violence, for sportsmanship', to promote respect on and around football pitches.
In spring 2012, sports alderman René Peeters opened the new inline skating rink of the Almere Skating Association. This official opening on 21 April was also the kick-off of National Sports Week in Almere. The rink is located in the Fanny Blankers-Koen Sportpark next to Almere City FC's football stadium. The middle area has a 200-metre skeeler track with bowl curves. Sports enthusiasts can also play street hockey and ice hockey on inline skates. In winter, the complex can be flooded to turn it into a natural ice rink.
In the summer of 2012, two boys from Almere, 11-year-old Thijs and 12-year-old Nick, stumbled upon a skull in Almere Poort while playing outside. They were startled and called the police. However, it turned out to be a two-thousand-year-old skull from the Roman era. This find turned out to be special and unique for the understanding of Almere's past. Previously, it was assumed that no habitation was possible in the Roman era in the flooded area, which is now Almere.
In autumn 2012, Almere was told by the Dutch Horticultural Council that it could host the seventh edition of the Floriade. Then-spatial planning alderman Adri Duivesteijn was delighted during the official announcement on 24 September. According to the plans, Almere is to have a completely new district near Filmwijk and het Weerwater in 2022. The ideas of English urban planner Ebenezer Howard permeate this Floriade district, the green version of the Cité Idéale. With the theme 'Growing Green Cities', a prototype green city district is unfolding for the World Expo in 2022.