View source for Almere

{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
<!-- Name and transliteration -->| name               = Almere
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in the Netherlands by province|City]] and [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]]
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
  | total_width            = 280
  | border                 = infobox
  | perrow                 = 1/2/2
  | caption_align          = center
  | image1                 = Skyline Almere.jpg
  | alt1                   = Skyline with the Weerwater
  | caption1               = Skyline with the Weerwater
  | image2                 = Station almere centrum2.jpg
  | alt2                   = Almere Centrum railway station
  | caption2               = [[Almere Centrum railway station]]
  | image3                 = TSCBuitenkant.jpg
  | alt3                   = Topsportcentrum
  | caption3               = [[Topsportcentrum (Almere)|Topsportcentrum]]
  | image4                 = Grüne_Kathedrale_2024.jpg
  | alt4                   = The Green Cathedral
  | caption4               = [[The Green Cathedral]]
  | image5                 = Floriade Buildings 2022.jpg
  | alt5                   = Floriade 2022
  | caption5               = [[Floriade 2022]]
  }}
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = Almere vlag.svg
| flag_size          = 100x67px
| flag_alt           = 
| image_shield       = Almere wapen.svg
| shield_size        = 100x80px
| shield_alt         = <!-- Maps, coordinates -->
| image_map          = Map - NL - Municipality code 0034 (2009).svg
| map_alt            = Highlighted position of Almere in a municipal map of Flevoland
| map_caption        = Location in Flevoland
| pushpin_map        = Netherlands#Europe
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the Netherlands##Location within Europe
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| coordinates        = {{coord|52|22|N|5|13|E|region:NL|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Flevoland]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of regions of the Netherlands|Region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Amsterdam metropolitan area]]
| government_footnotes = <ref name="mayor_now">{{cite web
 |url          = https://www.almere.nl/bestuur/college-van-burgemeester-en-wethouders/burgemeester
 |title        = Burgemeester Hein van der Loo
 |publisher    = Gemeente Almere
 |access-date   = 15 May 2024
}}</ref>
| governing_body     = [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|Municipal council]]
| leader_party       = Independent
| leader_title       = [[Burgemeester|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Hein van der Loo]]
<!-- Geographic information -->| unit_pref          = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{Dutch municipality total area|dataref}}</ref>
<!-- square kilometers -->| area_total_km2     = {{Dutch municipality total area|Almere}}
| area_land_km2      = {{Dutch municipality land area|Almere}}
| area_water_km2     = {{Dutch municipality water area|Almere}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool 
 |title=Postcodetool for 1315HR 
 |language=nl 
 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> 
 |work=Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland 
 |publisher=Het Waterschapshuis 
 |access-date=1 September 2013 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053543/http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool 
 |archive-date=21 September 2013 
}}</ref>
| elevation_m        = −3
| elevation_max_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_max_m    = 
| elevation_min_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_min_m    = <!-- Population, demographics -->
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Dutch municipality population|dataref}}</ref>
| population_total   = {{Dutch municipality population|Almere}}
| population_as_of   = {{MONTHNAME|{{Dutch municipality population|popbasemonth}}}} {{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}
| population_density_km2 = {{Dutch municipality population density|Almere}} <!-- For automatic calculation: auto-->
| population_demonym = Almeerder
<!-- Other information -->| timezone1          = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1        = +1
| timezone1_DST      = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = +2
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code        = 1300–1379
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code          = 036
| website            = {{URL|1=http://www.almere.nl}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 8
| image_blank_emblem = Almere.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = [[Brandmark]]
| blank_emblem_size  = 120px
}}
'''Almere''' ({{IPA|nl|ɑlˈmeːrə|-|Nl-Almere.ogg}}) is a [[Planned community|planned]] [[List of cities in the Netherlands by province|city]] and [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]] in the [[Provinces of the Netherlands|province]] of [[Flevoland]], [[Netherlands]] across the [[IJmeer]] from [[Amsterdam]]. 

Bordering [[Lelystad]] and [[Zeewolde]], the municipality of Almere comprises six official areas<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.almere.nl/over-almere/stadsdelen/|title=Stadsdelen - Over Almere - Gemeente Almere|last=info@almere.nl|website=www.almere.nl}}</ref> that are the districts of [[Almere Stad]] (which is further split up into Almere Stad Oost, Almere Stad West and Almere Centrum), [[Almere Buiten]] and Almere Pampus (which is currently being designed),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://almere20.almere.nl/gebiedsontwikkeling/pampus/|title=Pampus - Gebiedsontwikkeling - Gemeente Almere|website=almere20.almere.nl}}</ref> and the boroughs of [[Almere Haven]], Almere Hout and [[Almere Poort]]. Four of them feature official district or borough offices.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.almere.nl/contact/gebiedskantoren/|title=Gebiedskantoren - Contact - Gemeente Almere|last=info@almere.nl|website=www.almere.nl|access-date=2016-03-03|archive-date=2016-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307073039/https://www.almere.nl/contact/gebiedskantoren/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Furthermore, it also comprises the unofficial historic district and neighborhood Oostvaardersdiep.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.almerebuiten.info/locatie/het-oostvaardersdiep |title=Het Oostvaardersdiep &#124; Almere Buiten |access-date=2016-02-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305163511/https://www.almerebuiten.info/locatie/het-oostvaardersdiep |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://oostvaardersdiep.net|title=Oostvaardersdiep|website=oostvaardersdiep.net}}</ref> Almere is part of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (MRA).

Almere is the newest city in the Netherlands:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Norman |title=The Dutch city testing the future of urban life |url=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220404-the-dutch-city-experimenting-with-the-future-of-urban-life |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en}}</ref> the land on which the city sits, the Southern Flevoland [[polder]], [[Zuiderzee Works|was reclaimed]] from the [[IJsselmeer]] from 1959 to 1968. The first house was finished in 1976, and Almere became a municipality in 1984. It has the largest population of the municipalities in Flevoland with
{{formatnum:{{Dutch municipality population|Almere}}}} citizens in {{YEAR|{{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}}} and the 8th largest in the Netherlands. In October 2007, the city council of Almere made agreements with the government to expand the city to 350,000 inhabitants by 2030.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.verkeerenwaterstaat.nl/Images/27_tcm195-202814.pdf Schaalsprong Almere 2030, PDF]. Retrieved on 2008-06-09.</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [https://www.almere.nl/over-almere/feiten-en-cijfers/ Feiten en cijfers over Almere], Almere.nl.</ref>

==History==
{{unreferencedsect|date=July 2023}}
The original plans for the [[Zuiderzee Works|IJsselmeerpolders]] saw the land being used for agriculture. However, after [[World War II]] housing was needed for the rapidly growing population of [[Amsterdam]] and two towns were planned in the polders Oostelijk Flevoland and Zuidelijk Flevoland. The town in Oostelijk Flevoland became [[Lelystad]]. The town in Zuidelijk Flevoland was still called Zuidweststad (English: South West City) on the first sketches, but in the 1970s it became called ''Almere'', named after the lake [[Almere (lake)|Almere]], the early medieval name of the [[Zuiderzee]]. The first house in Almere was finished in 1976. At that time the town was still controlled by the ''Openbaar Lichaam Zuidelijke IJsselmeerpolders'' (Z.IJ.P.), with a [[Landdrost]]. In 1984 Almere became an official municipality. Originally, Almere was envisioned as a town with multiple centres. This idea was later abandoned in favor of allowing neighbourhoods like Tussen de Vaarten to be built. There is also a difference between the way houses are built in the oldest and the newest parts of the city. The housing plan in Almere in the 1970s was basic functionality and a levelling of social status. However, starting in the 1990s more exclusive homes with striking designs were built (notably in the Regenboogbuurt).

==Governance==
[[File:Stadhuis Almere (2024).jpg|thumb|left|The town hall of the municipality of Almere. The building is located on the Stadhuisplein.]]
===Local executive===
Hein van der Loo  (independent) has been  mayor of Almere since March 2023, with the [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|municipal council]] consisting of a [[coalition]] of several parties.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.almere.nl/bestuur/college-van-burgemeester-en-wethouders |title=College van burgemeester en wethouders|publisher= Gemeente Almere |access-date= 15 May 2024}}</ref>

====List of mayors====
* 1984–1986: Han Lammers ([[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]])
* 1986–1993: Cees de Cloe ([[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]])
* 1993–1994: Cees Roozemond ([[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]], acting)
* 1994–1998: Ralph Pans ([[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]])
* 1998–2003: Hans Ouwerkerk ([[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]])
* 2003–2003: Jaap van der Doef ([[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]], acting)
* 2003–2015: [[Annemarie Jorritsma]] ([[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]])
* 2015–2022: [[Franc Weerwind]] ([[Democrats 66|D66]])
* 2022–2023: [[Ank Bijleveld]] ([[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]], acting)
* 2023-current: Hein van der Loo  ([[Independent politician|independent]])

===Municipal council===
The first municipal council was installed on 2 January 1984 in the presence of the then-Minister of the Interior [[Koos Rietkerk]]. The council elections took place on 21 September 1983. Prior to 1984 Almere had an ''Adviesraad'', which was chosen every 2 years (1978–1980, 1980–1982, 1982–1984). This ''Adviesraad'' was made up of different political parties similar to a local council. On 11 March 1977 the first ''adviescommissie'' was elected. It consisted of 5 people that were chosen on personal title.
Since 2018, the council of Almere has comprised a total of 45 members.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!'''Party'''||'''1984'''||'''1986'''||'''1990'''||'''1994'''||'''1998'''||'''2002''' ||[[2006 Dutch municipal elections|'''2006''']]||[[2010 Dutch municipal elections|'''2010''']] ||[[2014 Dutch municipal elections|'''2014''']] ||[[2018 Dutch municipal elections|'''2018''']] ||[[2022 Dutch municipal elections|'''2022''']]<br/><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 March 2022 |title=Almere municipal election 2022 |url=https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/731289|access-date=15 May 2024|website=verkiezingsuitslagen.nl|language=nl}}</ref> 
|-
|[[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|People's Party for Freedom & Democracy]]||5||5||7||10||12||8||7||7||5||8||6
|-
|[[Labour Party (Netherlands)|Labour Party]]||10||14||9||6||9||7||12||8||5||7||4
|-
|[[Party for Freedom]]||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||9||9||6||5
|-
|[[Democrats 66]]||1||2||7||10||5||2||1||3||6||5||4
|-
|[[GroenLinks]]||2||1||3||4||4||4||3||3||2||4||3
|-
|[[Leefbaar Nederland|Leefbaar Almere]]||-||-||-||-||-||9||4||3||4||3||3
|-
|[[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|Socialist Party]]||-||-||-||-||-||-||4||2||4||3||4
|-
|[[Party for the Animals]]||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||3||3
|-
|[[Christian Union (Netherlands)|Christian Union]]||-||-||-||-||1||1||2||1||1||2||2
|-
|[[Christian Democratic Appeal]]||2||3||4||3||3||4||3||2||2||2||2
|-
|Almere Partij/OPA||-||1||2||2||3||2||2||-||1||1||1
|-
|Respect Almere||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||1||1
|-
|[[Trots op Nederland]]||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||1||-||-||-
|-
|Verenigde Senioren Partij||-||-||-||-||1||1||1||-||-||-||-
|-
|Stadspartij Almere||-||-||-||-||1||1||-||-||-||-||-
|-
|[[Centrumdemocraten]]||2||1||1||2||-||-||-||-||-||-||-
|-
|Stap '84||1||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-
|-
|[[BIJ1]]||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||2
|-
|[[50PLUS]]||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||2
|-
|[[Forum for Democracy]]||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||2
|-
|[[Denk (political party)|DENK]]||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||1
|-
|'''Total'''||'''23'''||'''27'''||'''33'''||'''37'''||'''39'''||'''39'''||'''39'''||'''39'''||'''39'''||'''45'''||'''45'''
|}

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the Netherlands}}

===Twin cities===
Almere maintains [[international relations]] with the following [[Town twinning|twin cities]]:<ref name="stedenband">{{in lang|nl}} [https://archive.today/20070810180141/http://www.almere.nl/live/index.jsp?nav=1461&loc=788238&det=241942 Gemeente Almere: Partnersteden]. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.</ref><ref name="sistercities">{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.stichtingpartnerstedenalmere.nl/informatie.htm Algemene Informatie] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20040910062719/http://www.stichtingpartnerstedenalmere.nl/informatie.htm |date=2004-09-10 }}. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagicon|DEN}} [[Aalborg]], [[Denmark]]<ref name="Aalborg twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.europeprize.net/en/?page_id=5 |title=Aalborg Twin Towns |publisher=Europeprize.net |access-date=19 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907145357/http://www.europeprize.net/en/?page_id=5 |archive-date=7 September 2013 }}</ref>
*{{flagicon|CZE}} [[České Budějovice]], [[Czech Republic]]
*{{flagicon|EST}} [[Haapsalu]], [[Estonia]]{{citation needed|date=July 2011}}
*{{flagicon|GHA}} [[Kumasi]], [[Ghana]]
*{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]], [[United Kingdom]]
||
*{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Milton Keynes]], [[United Kingdom]]
*{{flagicon|SUD}} [[Port Sudan]], [[Sudan]] (1986)
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Rendsburg]], [[Germany]]
*{{flagicon|TWN}} [[Tainan|Tainan City]], [[Taiwan]] (2009)
*{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Växjö]], [[Sweden]]
|}

==Geography==
[[File:Satellite image of Flevopolder, Netherlands (5.48E 52.43N).png|thumb|170px|[[Satellite imagery|Satellite image]] of the [[Flevopolder]]]]
[[File:Almere-plaats-OpenTopo.jpg|thumb|170px|Topographic map of Almere, September 2014]]
[[File:Map NL Almere.PNG|thumb|170px|Overview map of Almere]]
Almere is located in the [[polder]] of [[Flevopolder|Southern Flevoland]] (Dutch: ''Zuidelijk Flevoland''). It is the most western municipality of the province [[Flevoland]]. It borders with [[Markermeer]] in the west and north, [[Lelystad]] in the northeast, [[Zeewolde]] in the east, and [[Gooimeer]] in the south.

Almere consists of three boroughs and three districts (Dutch: ''stadsdelen''), three of which are under construction.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.almere.nl/over-almere/stadsdelen/ Gemeente Almere: Stadsdelen]. Retrieved on 2015-08-29.</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Year<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.almere.nl/live/attachment.db?258500 Sociale Atlas 2007 Bevolkingsopbouw]{{dead link|date=April 2011}}. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.</ref>
! Location
|-
| [[Almere Haven]] ('Almere Harbor')
| 1976
| [[File:Map NL Almere Haven.PNG|75px]]
|-
| [[Almere Stad]] ('Almere City')
| 1980
| [[File:Map NL Almere Stad.PNG|75px]]
|-
| [[Almere Buiten]] ('Outer Almere')
| 1984
| [[File:Map NL Almere Buiten.PNG|75px]]
|-
| Almere Hout ('Almere Woods')
| 1991
| [[File:Map NL Almere Hout.PNG|75px]]
|-
| [[Almere Poort]] ('Almere Gate')
| 2000
| [[File:Map NL Almere Poort.PNG|75px]]
|-
| Almere Pampus
| To be constructed
| [[File:Map NL Almere Pampus.PNG|75px]]
|}

===Climate===

Almere has an [[oceanic climate]] characterized by mild to cool winters, and warm summers with fair precipitation year-round.

{{Weather box
|location = Almere
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 
| Feb record high C = 
| Mar record high C = 
| Apr record high C = 
| May record high C = 
| Jun record high C = 
| Jul record high C = 
| Aug record high C = 
| Sep record high C = 
| Oct record high C = 
| Nov record high C = 
| Dec record high C =
|year record high C = 
| Jan high C = 4.9
| Feb high C = 5.5
| Mar high C = 8.2
| Apr high C = 9.6
| May high C = 16.2
| Jun high C = 19.3
| Jul high C = 20.8
| Aug high C = 21.0
| Sep high C = 18.5
| Oct high C = 14.2
| Nov high C = 8.9
| Dec high C = 5.9
|year high C = 
| Jan mean C = 2.2
| Feb mean C = 2.5
| Mar mean C = 4.8
| Apr mean C = 6.7
| May mean C = 11.9
| Jun mean C = 14.9
| Jul mean C = 16.5
| Aug mean C = 16.6
| Sep mean C = 14.3
| Oct mean C = 10.6
| Nov mean C = 6.1
| Dec mean C = 3.4
|year mean C = 
| Jan low C = -0.4
| Feb low C = -0.4
| Mar low C = 1.5
| Apr low C = 3.8
| May low C = 7.6
| Jun low C = 10.5
| Jul low C = 12.3
| Aug low C = 12.2
| Sep low C = 10.1
| Oct low C = 7.1
| Nov low C = 3.4
| Dec low C = 0.9
|year low C = 
| Jan record low C = 
| Feb record low C = 
| Mar record low C = 
| Apr record low C = 
| May record low C = 
| Jun record low C =
| Jul record low C = 
| Aug record low C = 
| Sep record low C = 
| Oct record low C = 
| Nov record low C = 
| Dec record low C = 
|year record low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 68.0
| Feb precipitation mm = 47.0
| Mar precipitation mm = 59.0
| Apr precipitation mm = 45.0
| May precipitation mm = 53.0
| Jun precipitation mm = 62.0
| Jul precipitation mm = 75.0
| Aug precipitation mm = 77.0
| Sep precipitation mm = 76.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 80.0
| Nov precipitation mm = 78.0
| Dec precipitation mm = 76.0
|year precipitation mm = 838.2
|source 1 = climatedata.org (1981–2010 normals)<ref>
{{cite web
  |       url = http://en.climate-data.org/location/928/
  |     title = Almere Climate Data 1981–2010
}}</ref>
|date=March 2015}}

==Demography==

===Inhabitants by origin===

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope=col |2017
! scope=col |Numbers
! scope=col |%
|-
!style="text-align:left;"|Dutch origin
|'''118,944'''
|'''54.31'''
|-
!style="text-align:left;"|Other European origin
|'''17,380'''
|'''10.91'''
|-
!style="text-align:left;"|Non-European origin
|'''64,590'''
|'''32.93'''
|- style="text-align:left;"
|''[[Suriname]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://statline.cbs.nl/Statweb/selection/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=37713&D1=0-8&D2=0&D3=1-2,6-55&D4=603&D5=l&HDR=T,G4&STB=G1,G3,G2|title=CBS StatLine - Selecteren van gegevens|website=statline.cbs.nl}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|''22,772''
|style="text-align:center;"|''11.33''
|- style="text-align:left;"
|''[[Morocco]]''
|style="text-align:center;"|''7,871''
|style="text-align:center;"|''3.92''
|- style="text-align:left;"
|''[[Indonesia]]''
|style="text-align:center;"|''5,981''
|style="text-align:center;"|''2.98''
|- style="text-align:left;"
|''[[Netherlands Antilles]] and [[Aruba]]''
|style="text-align:center;"|''4,955''
|style="text-align:center;"|''2.47''
|- style="text-align:left;"
|''[[Turkey]]''
|style="text-align:center;"|''3,572''
|style="text-align:center;"|''1.78''
|- style="text-align:left;"
|''Others''
|style="text-align:center;"|''36,819''
|style="text-align:center;"|''11.50''
|}

===Total population===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! style="text-align:center;"| Almere Haven
! style="text-align:center;"| Almere Stad
! style="text-align:center;"| Almere Buiten
! style="text-align:center;"| Almere Hout
! style="text-align:center;"| Almere Poort
! style="text-align:center;"| Almere Pampus
! style="text-align:center;"| Almere in total
|-
|1970
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
| style="text-align:right;"| 52
|-
|1975
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
| style="text-align:right;"| 47
|-
|1980
| style="text-align:right;"| 6,596
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
| style="text-align:right;"| 6,632
|-
|1985
| style="text-align:right;"| 21,410
| style="text-align:right;"| 17,240
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,559
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
| style="text-align:right;"| 40,297
|-
|1990
| style="text-align:right;"| 22,355
| style="text-align:right;"| 37,024
| style="text-align:right;"| 11,499
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
| style="text-align:right;"| 71,087
|-
|1995
| style="text-align:right;"| 22,376
| style="text-align:right;"| 58,816
| style="text-align:right;"| 22,740
| style="text-align:right;"| 564
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
| style="text-align:right;"| 104,496
|-
|2000
| style="text-align:right;"| 22,237
| style="text-align:right;"| 83,934
| style="text-align:right;"| 35,290
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,336
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
| style="text-align:right;"| 142,797
|-
|2005
| style="text-align:right;"| 22,590
| style="text-align:right;"| 103,560
| style="text-align:right;"| 47,358
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,366
|&nbsp;
|&nbsp;
| style="text-align:right;"| 175,008
|-
|2007
| style="text-align:right;"| 22,507
| style="text-align:right;"| 105,261
| style="text-align:right;"| 51,751
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,345
| style="text-align:right;"| 134
|&nbsp;
| style="text-align:right;"| 180,998
|-
|2016
| style="text-align:right;"| 22,037
| style="text-align:right;"| 109,863
| style="text-align:right;"| 55,663
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,678
| style="text-align:right;"| 10,920
|&nbsp;
| style="text-align:right;"| 200,812
|-
|2024
| style="text-align:right;"| 24,571
| style="text-align:right;"| 110,946
| style="text-align:right;"| 58,481
| style="text-align:right;"| 11,510
| style="text-align:right;"| 22,848
| style="text-align:right;"| 4
| style="text-align:right;"| 228,360
|}
==Culture==

On 19 May 2004, at the instigation of [[Kees Kousemaker]], owner of the Amsterdam comics store [[Lambiek]], the first buildings of the ''Stripheldenbuurt'' were inaugurated in Almere. This is a district where all street names are named after famous comics characters and cartoonists.<ref name= "lambiek.net8" >{{cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/comics/lambiek_kerkstraat119.htm|title=The History of Lambiek (2003-2005)}}</ref>

==Sport==

Almere is the home of [[association football|football]] team [[Almere City FC]], American football team FlevoPhantoms and the home of professional basketball team the [[Almere Sailors]].

==Transport==
[[File:Schouwburg Almere.jpg|right|thumb|Kunstlinie Almere Flevoland (formerly known as "Schouwburg Almere")]]
The traffic infrastructure in Almere is recognisable because of its
separate infrastructure for cycles (which, in most cases, have separate cycle paths), cars
and buses (the buses drive on a separate bus lane in most parts of the city).
Almere is connected to the motorways [[A6 motorway (Netherlands)|A6]] and [[A27 motorway (Netherlands)|A27]].

===Railway===
In 1987 Almere was connected to the national railway system (see
[[Nederlandse Spoorwegen|NS]]) with the fully completed
[[Flevolijn]] which connected [[Weesp railway station|Weesp]] to [[Lelystad Centrum railway station|Lelystad Centrum]].

Almere currently has six railway stations:
*[[Almere Poort railway station|Almere Poort]] (opened December 9, 2012)
*[[Almere Muziekwijk railway station|Almere Muziekwijk]] (opened May 30, 1987)
*[[Almere Centrum railway station|Almere Centrum]] (opened May 30, 1987)
*[[Almere Parkwijk railway station|Almere Parkwijk]] (opened on February 1, 1996)
*[[Almere Buiten railway station|Almere Buiten]] (opened May 30, 1987)
*[[Almere Oostvaarders railway station|Almere Oostvaarders]] (opened December 12, 2004)

A seasonal-use station, [[Almere Strand railway station|Almere Strand]], was set up for certain events, such as Libelle Zomerweek. The station was made up of iron platforms. It was opened in May 1996 under the name ''Muiderzand''. The station was closed after June 1996 but re-opened in June 1999 under the name ''Muiderstrand'' and closed again in July 1999. It re-opened again in 2001 under the name ''Almere Strand'' as an official seasonal-use station, meaning it was now open certain seasons every year. Because of the rapid development of the adjacent borough Almere Poort, it was decided to open an official station there (see [[Almere Poort railway station|Almere Poort]]), thus making the station of Almere Strand obsolete. Almere Poort station opened on December 9, 2012. Therefore, Almere Strand station was officially closed just after the summer of 2012 and its iron platforms were torn down in the weekend of October 6–7, 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stationsweb.nl/station.asp?station=almerestrand&vraag=almere%20strand |title=Archived copy |website=www.stationsweb.nl |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406232711/http://www.stationsweb.nl/station.asp?station=almerestrand&vraag=almere%20strand |archive-date=6 April 2022 |url-status=dead}}</ref> There are no remains of the station, although passengers can still see where the platforms once stood from the windows of Flevolijn trains.{{clarify|date=March 2016}}

===Public buses===

====Local bus lines====
In Almere there are 10 bus lines which service the urban area.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"
! Line #
! Route
! Notes
|-
| M1
| Almere Centrum Station – Almere Haven De Marken or Almere Haven De Gouwen – Almere Haven Centrum
| Runs every 5 minutes Mon-Fri during daytime hours (every 7.5–15 minutes on evenings and Sundays). The bus line changes into M2 at Almere Centrum
|-
| M2
| Almere Centrum Station – Almere Buiten station - Almere Oostvaarders station - Almere Stripheldenbuurt

| Runs every 5 minutes Mon-Fri during daytime hours (every 7.5–15 minutes on evenings and Sundays). The bus line changes into M1 at Almere Centrum
|-
| M3
| Almere Centrum Station - Almere Beatrixpark - Almere Muziekwijk
| Runs every 5 minutes Mon-Fri during daytime hours (every 7.5–15 minutes on evenings and Sundays).

|-
| M4
| Almere Centrum Station – Almere Literatuurwijk – Almere Gooisekant-West – Almere Poort Homeruskwartier – Almere Poort Station

| Runs every 5 minutes Mon-Fri during daytime hours (every 7.5–15 minutes on evenings and Sundays).
|-
| M5
| Almere Centrum station - Almere Filmwijk - Almere Danswijk - Almere Parkwijk station

|Runs every 5 minutes Mon-Fri during daytime hours (every 7.5–15 minutes on evenings and Sundays).
|-
| M6
| Almere Centrum Station – Noorderplassen

| Runs every 7 minutes Mon-Fri (every 15 minutes on Saturdays and every 30 minutes on Sundays).
|-
| M7
| Almere Centrum station - Almere Parkwijk station - Almere Buiten station - Almere Oostvaarders station

|Runs every 5 minutes Mon-Fri during daytime hours (every 7.5–15 minutes on evenings and Sundays). 
|-
| M8
| Almere Centrum Station– Almere Nobelhorst

| Runs every 10 minutes Mon-Sat during daytime hours (everybody 15 minutes on evenings and Sundays). 
|-
| 22
| Almere De Vaart/PIA – Almere Buiten Station
| Mon-Fri only; does not run on evenings and weekends. Has 2 request stops
|-
| 24 	
| Almere Poort Station - Almere Duin
| Only on Mon-Fri in rush hours. During the summer months also on weekends
|} 

Monday to Friday, most city buses run about every 5 minutes (10 times every hour) during daytime hours. Saturdays, only a few city bus lines run every 7.5 minutes during daytime hours; most of them run every 12–15 minutes. Sunday, most of the city buses run every 15 minutes (with some buses running extra runs during certain hours) and M6 which only runs every 30 minutes.

There are a few overnight bus lines (Mon-Sat nights only): N21, N22 and N23. They run under the Keolis internal name nightGo (but are operated by [[R-net]] branded regional buses).

The bus company running almost all buses is Keolis Netherlands. Local buses (city buses) run under the name allGo. In the buses one can use the [[OV-chipkaart|national transportation chipcard (smart card)]], subscriptions or one can buy bus tickets of allGo in the bus or at TVM's (the latter only Downtown).

====Regional bus lines====
Besides the local bus lines, there are regional and rush hour bus lines to towns and cities in the area.
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"
! Line
! Route
! Notes
|-
| 323
| Almere Parkwijk station - Almere Poort Station – Muiden P+R - [[Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA railway station|Amsterdam Bijlmer]]

| Mon-Fri between 5.30 AM and 10.30 AM and between 14.00 PM until the end of the day. Sat only after 18.00 PM and Sun all day long.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wiki.ovinnederland.nl/wiki/Lijn_323_Almere_Station_Parkwijk_-_Amsterdam_Bijlmer_ArenA|title = Lijn 323 Almere Station Parkwijk - Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA - OV in Nederland Wiki}}</ref>
|-
| 324
| Almere Parkwijk Station – Almere Filmwijk - [[Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA railway station|Amsterdam Bijlmer]]

| Mon-Fri, rush hours-only, express bus without stops in Amsterdam

|-
| 326
| Almere Centrum Station – Busstation 't Oor – Almere De Kemphaan – Blaricum Carpoolplaats
| Mon-Fri only; does not run on evenings and weekends.
|-
| 159
| Almere Centrum Station – Almere Veluwsekant – Almere De Kemphaan – Almere Hout – [[Zeewolde]] – [[Harderwijk]]

| Mon-Fri only; does not run on evenings and weekends. The last two buses of the day terminate halfway at Zeewolde Kwartiermakerslaan. Closed-system in Almere.

|-
| 160
| Almere Centrum Station – Busstation 't Oor – Almere De Kemphaan – [[Zeewolde]] De Eemhof – [[Amersfoort]] Vathorst Station
| Runs 7 days a week, but only every 2 hours and only between 10 AM-10:30 PM. This bus is actually part of the OV Regio IJsselmond concession, but Keolis operates it under contract with Syntus Overijssel-branded buses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wiki.ovinnederland.nl/wiki/Lijn_160_Almere_Station_Centrum_-_Amersfoort_Station_Vathorst|title = Lijn 160 Almere Station Centrum - Amersfoort Station Vathorst - OV in Nederland Wiki}}</ref>
|-
| 322
| Almere Parkwijk Station – Almere Flevoziekenhuis – Almere Gooisepoort – Almere Poort Station – [[Muiden]] P+R – [[Diemen]] Diemerknoop – [[Amsterdam Amstel railway station|Amsterdam Amstel]]
| Is allowed to use the emergency lanes on the highway parts of the route to manoeuvre past traffic jams.
|-
| 327
| Almere Haven Centrum – Busstation 't Oor – Muiden P+R – Diemen Diemerknoop – [[Amsterdam Amstel railway station|Amsterdam Amstel]]
| Is allowed to use the emergency lanes on the highway parts of the route to manoeuvre past traffic jams.
|-
| 328
| Almere Haven Centrum – Busstation 't Oor – Muiden P+R – Diemen Diemerknoop – [[Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA railway station|Amsterdam Bijlmer]] 
| Closed-system in Amsterdam. Is allowed to use the emergency lanes on the highway parts of the route to manoeuvre past traffic jams.
|}

''Line 159 is operated by the bus company [[Connexxion]].''

Since April 2012, there was a rush hour route, 150, to [[Utrecht]] which connected Almere directly with the University Area of Utrecht called [[De Uithof]]. (This was previously done by former bus line 295<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wiki.ovinnederland.nl/wiki/Lijn_295_Almere-Stad_Station_Centrum_-_Utrecht_AZU|title=Lijn 295 Almere-Stad Station Centrum - Utrecht AZU - OV in Nederland Wiki|website=wiki.ovinnederland.nl}}</ref>). Due to budget cuts, line 150 was scrapped on July 9, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rtvutrecht.nl/nieuws/1484019/|title=Snelwegbus Utrecht-Almere stopt ermee - RTV Utrecht|website=www.rtvutrecht.nl|date=7 June 2016 }}</ref>

==Notable residents==
[[File:Rob Verlinden.jpg|140px|thumb|Rob Verlinden, 2012]]
[[File:Krajicek M. WMQ16 (11) (28107246912).jpg|140px|thumb|Michaëlla Krajicek, 2016]]
* [[Rob Verlinden]] (born 1950) Dutch gardener, TV presenter on gardening
* [[Annemarie Jorritsma]] (born 1950) politician and former mayor of Almere
* [[Bart van Leeuwen]] (1950 – 2017) Dutch photographer, author and radio DJ
* [[Jörgen Raymann]] (born 1966) cabaretier, stand-up comedian, actor, presenter and RTV host<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1474876/  IMDb Database] retrieved 10 August 2019</ref>
* [[Chris Jansen]] (born 1966) politician
* [[Raymzter]] (born 1979) rapper
* "[[Angerfist]]" (Danny Masseling, born 1981) producer and DJ
* [[Yfke Sturm]] (born 1981) international model<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2142029/  IMDb Database] retrieved 10 August 2019</ref>
* [[Ali B]] (born 1981) rapper, host/presenter, music label owner
* [[Alvaro (DJ)|Alvaro]] (born 1987) Producer, DJ
* [[Pieter Elbers]] (born 1970) CEO [[KLM]]

=== Sport ===
* [[Frank Rijkaard]] (born 1962) football player and coach
* [[Remy Bonjasky]] (born 1976) kickboxer
* [[Maartje Scheepstra]] (born 1980) Dutch field hockey player, silver medallist at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Marco Piqué]] (born 1980) Dutch-Surinamese welterweight kickboxer
* [[Hedwiges Maduro]] (born 1985)  football coach and former footballer with over 250 club caps
* [[Danny Holla]] (born 1987) footballer with over 300 club caps
* [[Michaëlla Krajicek]] (born 1989) Dutch tennis player
* [[Desiree van Lunteren]] (born 1992) Dutch footballer
* [[Niki Wories]] (born 1996) Dutch figure skater
* [[Sergiño Dest]] (born 2000) Dutch/American footballer
* [[Kevin Doets]] (born 1998) Dutch darts player

== See also==
* [[Floriade 2022]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://english.almere.nl/ Gemeente Almere] (official website)
*[http://www.oostvaardersdiep.nl Oldest location in Almere]

{{Sister bar|auto=y}}
<!--Please note that not all directions need to be filled-->
<!--Please note that only other municipalities or bodies of water should be used-->
{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Almere
|North     = ''[[Markermeer]]''
|Northeast = [[Lelystad]]
|East      = [[Zeewolde]]
|Southeast = ''[[Gooimeer]]'' / [[Blaricum]]{{space}}([[North Holland|NH]])
|South     = ''[[Gooimeer]]''<br />[[Huizen]]{{space}}([[North Holland|NH]])
|Southwest = [[Gooise Meren]]{{space}}([[North Holland|NH]]) / ''[[IJmeer]]'', ''[[Gooimeer]]''
|West      = ''[[IJmeer]]''
}}

{{Flevoland Province}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Almere| ]]
[[Category:Cities in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Flevoland]]
[[Category:Populated places in Flevoland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1976]]
[[Category:Planned communities in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Planned communities established in the 1970s]]