Almere

Netherlands

Almere is a city in Flevoland, a western province of the Netherlands, which was reclaimed from the sea in the 20th century.

Almere is a new town, it has a new city centre. Because it is so new, if you're looking for old buildings, just go elsewhere: the oldest building is only from 1976! Almere had about 191,000 inhabitants in 2011, which makes it the 7th city of the Netherlands.

Begin your tour by visiting VVV Almere in De nieuwe Bibliotheek Almere is rife with prominent examples of modern architecture from 1970s onwards, and prides itself in its collection thereof. If this is one of your interests, you will surely not be disappointed in Almere.

Your tour of the architectural marvels of Almere would head off to a good start with a visit to those two places, both housed in rather interesting buildings, close to each other and right in the centre of the city:

  • CASLa. Centre for architecture, city construction and landscape of Almere, with exhibitions and various events. The staff will be happy to talk you through Almere's architectural richness, give you an overview of the town centre using a scale model, and will often be able to provide you with maps, guides and publications on architecture in Almere.
  • VVV Almere. The local tourist information office will be happy to suggest walks or tours for you to take, and has maps and electronic guides with pre-programmed architecturally-themed routes to take. They also have state-of-the-art bicycles for rent if you want to explore Almere that way.

Some of the most prominent works of architecture are to be found in the town's new centre (Stadshart):

  • De Citadel, Jewel and Smaragd and Angle form a multi-functional centre with shops on the ground level, residential quarters over them and parking and transit hidden undernath
  • De Nieuwe Bibliotheek complements them with a striking building with functions beyond that of a traditional library and more of a true community centre. Next to it is the sprawling city hall, Stadhuis Almere
  • The waterfront of Stadshart is a collection of striking residential buildings: Lakeside, The Wave, Side by side and The City. Next to them, striking De Kunstlinie houses the local theatre (Shouwburg Almere)

CASLa. Centre for architecture, city construction and landscape of Almere, with exhibitions and various events. The staff will be happy to talk you through Almere's architectural richness, give you an overview of the town centre using a scale model, and will often be able to provide you with maps, guides and publications on architecture in Almere.

VVV Almere. The local tourist information office will be happy to suggest walks or tours for you to take, and has maps and electronic guides with pre-programmed architecturally-themed routes to take. They also have state-of-the-art bicycles for rent if you want to explore Almere that way.

De Citadel, Jewel and Smaragd and Angle form a multi-functional centre with shops on the ground level, residential quarters over them and parking and transit hidden undernath

De Nieuwe Bibliotheek complements them with a striking building with functions beyond that of a traditional library and more of a true community centre. Next to it is the sprawling city hall, Stadhuis Almere

The waterfront of Stadshart is a collection of striking residential buildings: Lakeside, The Wave, Side by side and The City. Next to them, striking De Kunstlinie houses the local theatre (Shouwburg Almere)

  • Utopolis - the local outlet of the multiplex cinema chain

Almere has its share of sights to behold

Utopolis - the local outlet of the multiplex cinema chain

  • Tour Almere the traditional way. The local company Almere Veertje offers many of the traditional tourists treats, including trips by boat, an ultra-cheesy tourist train with a hop-on-hop-off option and guided tours to some of the city's attractions.
  • Walk! - Almere is a very walkable municipality, offering both urban and natural landscapes to explore. There are plenty of organized and pre-planned walks available via VVV Almere . Or you can simply grab a map and explore yourself.

Tour Almere the traditional way. The local company Almere Veertje offers many of the traditional tourists treats, including trips by boat, an ultra-cheesy tourist train with a hop-on-hop-off option and guided tours to some of the city's attractions.

Walk! - Almere is a very walkable municipality, offering both urban and natural landscapes to explore. There are plenty of organized and pre-planned walks available via VVV Almere . Or you can simply grab a map and explore yourself.

In the City Centre - [1]  of Almere are branches of all major retailers. Besides, there are also many local and special shops. In Almere Haven you will find Haven Centrum, this is a community center. In Almere Buiten you will find BuitenMere, a community center and DoeMere- [1] a large shopping center that is completely specialised in home and DIY. In Almere Poort are two supermarkets, a pharmacy, a drugstore and a number of small eateries. Besides these, there are many local shops, for instance at the C. van Eesterenplein, Literatuurwijk, Muziekwijk, Parkwijk and De Meenten

  • Almere Fried Chicken, Grote Markt 9. 12:00-00:00. Halal Fried Chicken.
  • King of the Ribs, Forum 18, +31 36 202 20 71. Kebab burgers, chicken products and spareribs.
  • Febo, De Diagonal 26; and Stationsplein 20. Burgers, chicken, wraps, ice cream. Fast food chain.
  • IJspressi, Schutterstraat 44, Grote markt. Su M 12:00-18:00; Tu W F Sa 10:00-18:00; Th 10:00-21:00. Ice cream parlor and espresso bar
  • IJsalon Mariola, Mariola, +31 36 53 16015. Ice cream parlour.
  • Mockamore, De Diagonal 3. M 11:00-18:00, Tu W F 09:30-18:00, Th 09:30-21:00, F Sa 09:30-17:00, Su 11:00-17:00. Coffee, bagels, etc.
  • Bakker Bart, Kruisstraat 33-37. M-Sa 08:00-17:30. Sandwiches, bread, snacks.
  • Family, Noordeinde 247. M-Sa 11:00-21:00, Su 13:00-21:00. Sandwiches €2-5, hamburgers €3-6.
  • Kwalitaria, Prozastraat 113. Burgers, sandwiches, fries, shakes. Also at Rio de Janeirostraat 12, and Condigent Rimsky-Korssakovweg 41.

Almere Fried Chicken, Grote Markt 9. 12:00-00:00. Halal Fried Chicken.

King of the Ribs, Forum 18, +31 36 202 20 71. Kebab burgers, chicken products and spareribs.

Febo, De Diagonal 26; and Stationsplein 20. Burgers, chicken, wraps, ice cream. Fast food chain.

IJspressi, Schutterstraat 44, Grote markt. Su M 12:00-18:00; Tu W F Sa 10:00-18:00; Th 10:00-21:00. Ice cream parlor and espresso bar

IJsalon Mariola, Mariola, +31 36 53 16015. Ice cream parlour.

Mockamore, De Diagonal 3. M 11:00-18:00, Tu W F 09:30-18:00, Th 09:30-21:00, F Sa 09:30-17:00, Su 11:00-17:00. Coffee, bagels, etc.

Bakker Bart, Kruisstraat 33-37. M-Sa 08:00-17:30. Sandwiches, bread, snacks.

Family, Noordeinde 247. M-Sa 11:00-21:00, Su 13:00-21:00. Sandwiches €2-5, hamburgers €3-6.

Kwalitaria, Prozastraat 113. Burgers, sandwiches, fries, shakes. Also at Rio de Janeirostraat 12, and Condigent Rimsky-Korssakovweg 41.

  • Bistro Rood, Kruisstraat 43-45, +31 36 5348619. W Th Su 12:00-21:00, F Sa 12:00-22:00. Lunch €6.5-13. Dinner mains €13-19.
  • Restaurant Het Indisch Veerhuys, Havenhoofd 7. Th-Tu 16:30-21:30. Dishes €12.50; Rijstaffel €28.50-32.50/person.
  • Tapas Barça, Grote Markt 75, +31 36 53 40 881. 10:00-22:00 (Th Su to 22:30, F Sa to 23:00). Wide choice of cocktails, meat and vegetarian tapas. Tapas plates €3-10.
  • Sake, Brouwerstraat 15. Su-W 16:30-22:00, Th-Sa 16:30-22:30. Japanese/Asian fusion, sushi and grill. All-you-can-eat €22-25.
  • Sapporo, Grote Markt 53, +31 36 530 12 51. Su-W 16:30-22:00, Th-Sa 16:30-22:30. Chinese, Japanese, sushi, grill and wok. All-you-can-eat €22-25.
  • Sasa Lounge, Havenzicht 16, +31 36 521 57 61. Hispano-Japanese fusion: sushi, tapas, vegetarian Tapas €5-10, sushi €4-13, all-you-can-eat €40-55.

Bistro Rood, Kruisstraat 43-45, +31 36 5348619. W Th Su 12:00-21:00, F Sa 12:00-22:00. Lunch €6.5-13. Dinner mains €13-19.

Restaurant Het Indisch Veerhuys, Havenhoofd 7. Th-Tu 16:30-21:30. Dishes €12.50; Rijstaffel €28.50-32.50/person.

Tapas Barça, Grote Markt 75, +31 36 53 40 881. 10:00-22:00 (Th Su to 22:30, F Sa to 23:00). Wide choice of cocktails, meat and vegetarian tapas. Tapas plates €3-10.

Sake, Brouwerstraat 15. Su-W 16:30-22:00, Th-Sa 16:30-22:30. Japanese/Asian fusion, sushi and grill. All-you-can-eat €22-25.

Sapporo, Grote Markt 53, +31 36 530 12 51. Su-W 16:30-22:00, Th-Sa 16:30-22:30. Chinese, Japanese, sushi, grill and wok. All-you-can-eat €22-25.

Sasa Lounge, Havenzicht 16, +31 36 521 57 61. Hispano-Japanese fusion: sushi, tapas, vegetarian Tapas €5-10, sushi €4-13, all-you-can-eat €40-55.

  • Brasserie Bakboord, Veerkade 10, +31 36 540 40 40. Daily from 11:00. Included in Michelin's Bib Gourmands 2018 for the Benelux. Mains €18-28, 3 courses €37.
  • Restaurant Boathouse, Noorderplassenweg 150, +31 3 530 50 00. Daily 11:00-23:00. Lunches €6.5-10.5. Dinner mains €14-29.
  • Restaurant Bij Brons, Sluis 3, +31 36 540 1126. Tu-Su from 17:30. Mains €18-28, 3 courses €37.
  • Restaurant Treasure, Sluiskade 2-10, +31 36 531 75 80. Tu-Su 16:00-22:00. Pan-Asian, sushi, etc. Mains €13.5-29, all-you-can-eat €23.5-32.5.
  • Brasserie Julia, Sluiskade 16-20, +31 36 531 15 57. W-M lunch and dinner. Lunch €7-13; dinner mains €10-28.
  • Atlantis, Pim Mulierstraat 101, +31 365344900. 16:30-22:30. World kitchen.

Brasserie Bakboord, Veerkade 10, +31 36 540 40 40. Daily from 11:00. Included in Michelin's Bib Gourmands 2018 for the Benelux. Mains €18-28, 3 courses €37.

Restaurant Boathouse, Noorderplassenweg 150, +31 3 530 50 00. Daily 11:00-23:00. Lunches €6.5-10.5. Dinner mains €14-29.

Restaurant Bij Brons, Sluis 3, +31 36 540 1126. Tu-Su from 17:30. Mains €18-28, 3 courses €37.

Restaurant Treasure, Sluiskade 2-10, +31 36 531 75 80. Tu-Su 16:00-22:00. Pan-Asian, sushi, etc. Mains €13.5-29, all-you-can-eat €23.5-32.5.

Brasserie Julia, Sluiskade 16-20, +31 36 531 15 57. W-M lunch and dinner. Lunch €7-13; dinner mains €10-28.

Atlantis, Pim Mulierstraat 101, +31 365344900. 16:30-22:30. World kitchen.

Most bars are on the Grote Markt. There are some bars in the Havenkom, this is harbor of Almere-Haven, here you can eat and drink while enjoying the view of the bay in a very calm setting.

At Almere City Centre you'll find

  • Club Cell, Schrijverstraat 2, 1315 HX Almere, +31 6 15270303.

Club Cell, Schrijverstraat 2, 1315 HX Almere, +31 6 15270303.

  • Lelystad — has some interesting sights, such as the recreated VOC ship
  • Oostvaardersplassen — this nature reserve is one of the prime birding areas in Europe
  • Schokland — this island used to be similar to Urk, but had to be evacuated; a ghost village remains and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Urk — traditional old Dutch village community that once was an island