40 years of Flevoland: Lelystad

In 2026, the province of Flevoland turns 40. And we are celebrating! We look back, and especially forward. The province of Flevoland is characterized by vast open spaces and a rectangular layout. The province consists of two parts: the Noordoostpolder, reclaimed up to the mainland, and the Flevopolder, the largest artificial island in the world. To avoid confusion with the municipality of Noordoostpolder, the Noordoostpolder (the combination of this municipality and the municipality of Urk) is also referred to as Northern Flevoland. This time, Lelystad, the capital of Flevoland.

Lelystad (history and future)

Lelystad is named after Cornelis Lely, the mastermind behind the Zuiderzee Works. However, the name was not fixed from the start. When it became clear after the Second World War that the polders to be reclaimed would receive a population and service center, it was suggested here and there in the media that the place would be called Flevostad. This did not please everyone. In late 1950, an article appeared in which Kornelis Jansma and Sjoerd Groenman, chairman and secretary respectively of the Society 'Flevo' (a research fund and think tank concerning the Zuiderzee Works), rejected this name on historical grounds and proposed giving the honor to Lely. They stated that it was self-evident 'that the most significant place in the new area, which is being added to the Netherlands primarily through his efforts, must be named after him,' and their conclusion was that 'Lelystad' would be the correct name. A Senate committee subsequently pleaded with Minister Wemmers for this name. He responded favorably, but indicated that the opinion of the Zuiderzee Council would be sought for a final determination in due course.

The Netherlands (2021): The stamps show images of the first houses, the statue of engineer Lely, and the Wortman pumping station in Lelystad. The background of the sheet shows a map of Flevoland by Cornelis Lely from 1892.

The story of Lelystad begins in 1950, when the plans for the reclamation of the Flevopolder were approved. The construction of the dikes and the draining of the polder followed in the 1950s and 1960s. This extensive project, which technically ranks among the most ambitious hydraulic engineering works in the world, required not only a high degree of innovation but also perseverance from the engineers and workers involved. Lelystad was officially founded in 1967, when the first homes were completed and the first residents moved in. Initially intended as a city for farmers and laborers, Lelystad grew into a modern residential area with a focus on sustainability, nature, and recreation.

In the years that followed, Lelystad underwent dynamic development. The city did much to strengthen both its economic and social structure. This is evident, among other things, from the arrival of various cultural and recreational facilities. For instance, the Batavia shipyard, where historic ships such as the Batavia are reconstructed, attracts thousands of visitors annually. In addition, the surrounding nature reserves, such as the Oostvaardersplassen and the Markermeer, offer countless opportunities for lovers of flora and fauna.

Ons Flevoland arose from the desire to build something new together. Land, villages, cities; a clever mosaic in which every piece has meaning. This did not happen without a struggle. For years, there was discussion, deliberation, and weighing of options. Until that one day. January 1, 1986. Flevoland officially became one. A historic decision that gave space to what we envisioned together: a society that sets its own course and shapes its future. With the unification, there was a shared starting point. For the municipalities, for tens of thousands of inhabitants, and for a region that had until then been governed in a fragmented manner. The significance of January 1, 1986: The implementation of the law came into force, and the province of Flevoland officially became one. With Lelystad as the capital.

Today, Lelystad is an attractive city for both families and entrepreneurs. The city offers a wide choice of housing, ranging from modern apartments to spacious single-family homes, and has excellent connections to other parts of the Netherlands thanks to the proximity of highways and the railway. Furthermore, significant investment is being made in the further development of the city center and the surrounding neighborhoods, giving Lelystad increasing allure.

Lelystad City Hall

Lelystad City Hall (opened in 1984) is a striking modern building in the city center, designed by architect Jan Hoogstad. It is known for its sloping facades, spacious public hall, council chamber with a dome-shaped roof, and a passive solar energy system that was revolutionary at the time.

The city hall consists of three main sections that function independently, both visually and structurally: an office section (six floors), a lower administrative section (two floors), and the public hall situated between them. The public hall is spanned by wooden trusses and features a transparent roof, which provides ample natural light.

City map with an explanation of the architecture of the town hall.

The design emphasizes sustainability and an open, accessible character. The complex was designed with energy conservation in mind, with the structure partly functioning as a climate control system to compensate for temperature fluctuations.

Railway connection

Since 1988, Lelystad has been connected to the national railway network, at the time as the terminus of the line also completed in 1988. Flevo Line (Weesp – Lelystad). The Weesp – Lelystad railway line, generally referred to as the Flevo Line, is a railway line through the Dutch Flevopolder. The railway connects the old land from Weesp via Almere to Lelystad. In 2003, the Flevo Line also gained a direct connection to Utrecht via the connecting Gooiboog. Since 2012, the line has seven stations, namely Almere Poort, Almere Muziekwijk, Almere Centrum, Almere Parkwijk, Almere Buiten, Almere Oostvaarders, and Lelystad Centrum.

Under the name Hanzelijn, the Flevolijn was extended eastward into the mainland, towards Kampen and Zwolle, effective with the 2013 timetable. To this end, the station was expanded from two to four tracks. Lelystad Stabling Yard is located north of the city. Trains are stabling and cleaned here. The section along the Oostvaardersplassen, between Almere Oostvaarders and Lelystad Zuid, was named the most beautiful railway line in the Netherlands in 2016 by Nederlandse Spoorwegen.

A second station, Lelystad Zuid, has been structurally complete since 1988. It will be completed and put into service when Lelystad Zuid is developed. Decision-making regarding this residential area – De Warande – and the associated station took place in the municipal council at the end of 2007. The ultimate goal of this expansion is the growth of the population to approximately 100.000.

Batavialand Museum

The Bataviawerf is a shipyard and center for historic shipbuilding. It is located in Lelystad and was founded in 1985. Following a merger with the Nieuw Land Heritage Center, the shipyard has been part of Museum Batavialand since 2017.

The Netherlands (2007): Beautiful Netherlands – Lelystad (with Museum Batavialand)

Between 1985 and 1995, work focused primarily on the construction of the Batavia, a reconstruction of the VOC ship Batavia from 1628. In 1995, the keel was laid for a reconstruction of the Zeven Provinciën, a ship of the line from 1665 and renowned as the flagship of Michiel de Ruyter. On Monday evening, October 13, 2008, a fire broke out. Several buildings, including the sailmaker's workshop, were completely engulfed in flames. Other buildings were damaged. The replicas of the Batavia and the Zeven Provinciën under construction were spared. However, the sails of the Batavia were lost in the fire. In early February 2014, construction of the Zeven Provinciën was halted. The timber stock had run out, and the 2 million euros needed to continue construction were not available.

Netherlands (2015): The replica of the Batavia with images of the Bow, the Crow's Nest, and the Stern of the Batavia.

In 2015, the keel was laid for the reconstruction of a water vessel whose wreck was found in the seabed on plot ZM22 near Zeewolde after the reclamation of the Flevopolder in 1976. The wreck was documented and a ship model was built. This model serves as the starting point for the 1:1 reconstruction. It concerns a Marker water vessel characterized by a large fish hold in which live fish were transported. The botter later originated from this type of ship.