Lelystad

Lelystad is a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province called Flevoland. The city was built on land that was made from the sea, a big project that started in 1967. It was named after Cornelis Lely, the person who helped plan the dam called the Afsluitdijk, which made this land possible. Because the land was once sea, Lelystad sits about three metres below sea level, which makes it quite special.

History

Lelystad is built on land that used to be underwater in the Zuiderzee. Thousands of years ago, people lived there before the land sank and water covered it. Near Lelystad, very old human bones were found, showing that people lived there long ago.

After World War II, big projects continued to turn the Zuiderzee into dry land. Workers started building islands in the middle of the water. Lelystad-Haven was the biggest island, where workers lived in wooden buildings. By 1955, they could drive cars to reach Lelystad. In 1957, special machines helped drain the water to make the land dry. Until 1967, only workers lived in Lelystad while they built the city.

Demographics

Lelystad has people from many different backgrounds. Most people, about 65%, have families that have always lived in the Netherlands. About 23% of the people have families from countries outside of Western Europe, called a non-Western migration background. The other 12% have families from Western countries, called a Western migration background.

The city has many people from Surinamese families, as well as smaller groups from Moroccan and Turkish backgrounds. These communities mostly live in different parts of the city. There are also some residents with an Antillean background.

Climate

Lelystad has a temperate climate, typical of the Netherlands. The city experiences mild winters and cool summers. Rainfall is spread fairly evenly throughout the year. Because it is located below sea level, the area can be affected by strong winds, especially during storms. The flat landscape helps in managing water levels, which is important for the city's safety and daily life.

Landscape

Lelystad is the largest municipality in the Netherlands by area, but much of it is covered by water, including Markermeer and IJsselmeer. A big part of the land is the famous nature park called Oostvaardersplassen, which formed naturally when the land was drained. Around Lelystad, there are woodlands, parks, and flat farmland. The beauty of the landscape and sky is shown in several pieces of land art.

Just to the northwest of Lelystad are the artificial islands called Marker Wadden. People began building them in 2016, and they have become important places for wildlife, especially birds during their breeding season.

Tourism

Lelystad has many places to visit, such as a copy of an old ship called the Batavia at the Batavia Shipyard, a place for clothes called Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet, old sailing ships, a nature park, and a theme park about airplanes called the National Aviation Theme Park Aviodrome. You can also see modern buildings like the Zilverparkkade and Agora Theatre.

The city holds fun events like the Lelystad Airshow, a Water Festival, and days for old cars. There are also races for motorcycles, go-karts, and stock cars on the Midland Circuit, and marinas along the coast.

Transport

Lelystad can be reached by air, water, and land.

Air

Lelystad Airport is the biggest airport in the Netherlands for private planes. It is owned by Schiphol Group. The airport has grown a lot, with a new building for passengers and a longer runway. It was planned to become a major airport for travelers, helping to reduce traffic at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. However, the new passenger terminal has not opened yet because of political decisions.

Water

Lelystad has a small port, several places for boats, and canals that help control water levels in the area. The canals connect Lelystad to the Markermeer and to other towns and industrial areas.

Rail

The Weesp–Lelystad railway goes south from Lelystad Centrum railway station and connects the city with Almere and the Randstad region. The Lelystad–Zwolle railway goes north from Lelystad and connects it with Dronten, Kampen, and Zwolle.

Motorway

The A6 motorway runs along the eastern side of Lelystad. There are three places to get on or off the motorway, allowing travel north to Emmeloord and Friesland, or south to Almere and the Randstad region.

Provincial roads

The N302 road connects Lelystad to the southeast with Harderwijk and Gelderland. The N307 road goes across the Houtribdijk to Enkhuizen and North Holland, and also to Dronten and Kampen in Overijssel. The N309 road connects Lelystad to Dronten and then to Elburg in Gelderland.

Shield and flag

The city's emblem shows a honeycomb pattern, representing the strong walls built with special blocks. The gold color reminds us of the high cost to create the dry land. In the center is the emblem of Cornelis Lely, the engineer who helped make it possible. The sea lions in the design reflect the area's history.

The city's flag features a lily in the center, honoring the name Lely. The yellow background stands for the valuable land, while the blue lines show the walls and water paths. The flag of the province also uses the lily to remember Lely's work.

Notable residents

Lelystad has been home to many interesting people. Some well-known names include Abraham Bueno de Mesquita, a comedian and actor, and Edsilia Rombley, a singer. The city has also seen politicians, artists, and writers grow and work here.

Sport

Many athletes have come from Lelystad. Co Stompé was a professional darts player, and Aron Winter worked as both a footballer and a football manager. The city has also produced Olympic swimmers, chess grandmasters, and footballers who have played for top teams.

Twin city

Lelystad has friendly ties with the city of Lelydorp in Suriname. This partnership helps both cities learn from each other and work together.

international relations twin city