View source for Lelystad

{{Short description|City and municipality in Flevoland, Netherlands}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
<!-- Name and transliteration -->| name               = Lelystad
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in the Netherlands by province|City]] and [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]]
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
  | total_width              = 280
  | border                   = infobox
  | perrow                   = 1/2/2/1
  | caption_align            = center
  | image1                   = Lelystad-22-06-2014.jpg
  | alt1                     = 
  | caption1                 = Aerial view of the city
  | image2                   = ZuilvanLely.jpg
  | alt2                     =
  | caption2                 = ''Zuil van Lely'' in the city center
  | image3                   = 20110417 Lelystad; Bataviastad 04 street.JPG
  | alt3                     = 
  | caption3                 = ''Batavia Stad''
  | image4                   = Zilverparkkade.jpg
  | alt4                     = 
  | caption4                 = [[Zilverparkkade]]
  | image5                   = 20140612 Batavia replica2 Lelystad.jpg
  | alt5                     = 
  | caption5                 = Replica of the [[Batavia (1628 ship)|Batavia]]
  | image6                   = Bataviastad - Bataviahaven - Schoonzicht - ICE Photocompilation Viewing from North to West.jpg
  | alt6                     = 
  | caption6                 = ''Bataviahaven''
  }}
| image_flag         = Flag of Lelystad.svg
| flag_size          = 100x67px
| flag_alt           = 
| image_shield       = Lelystad wapen.svg
| shield_size        = 100x80px
| shield_alt         = <!-- Maps, coordinates -->
| image_map          = Map - NL - Municipality code 0995 (2009).svg
| map_alt            = Highlighted position of Lelystad in a municipal map of Flevoland
| map_caption        = Location in Flevoland
| pushpin_map        = Netherlands Flevoland (plain)#Netherlands#Europe
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the Netherlands##Location within Europe
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| coordinates        = {{coord|52|30|N|5|29|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]]
| established_title  = Established
| established_date   = 1 January 1967
| government_footnotes = <ref name="mayor_now">{{cite web
 |url = http://www.lelystad.nl/4/College/Portefeuilleverdeling.html
 |title = Portefeuilleverdeling
 |trans-title = Tasks
 |language = nl
 |publisher = Gemeente Lelystad
 |access-date = 1 September 2013
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130910112107/http://www.lelystad.nl/4/College/Portefeuilleverdeling.html
 |archive-date = 10 September 2013
 |url-status = dead
 }}</ref>
| governing_body     = [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|Municipal council]]
| leader_party       = [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]
| leader_title       = [[Burgemeester|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Henry Meijdam]]
<!-- 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|Lelystad}}
| area_land_km2      = {{Dutch municipality land area|Lelystad}}
| area_water_km2     = {{Dutch municipality water area|Lelystad}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool 
 |title=Postcodetool for 8232ZX 
 |language=nl 
 |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        = &minus;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|Lelystad}}
| population_as_of   = {{MONTHNAME|{{Dutch municipality population|popbasemonth}}}} {{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}
| population_density_km2 = {{Dutch municipality population density|Lelystad}} <!-- For automatic calculation: auto-->
| population_demonym = <!-- 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        = 8200–8249
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code          = 0320
| website            = {{URL|1=http://www.lelystad.nl}}
| footnotes          = 
| image_blank_emblem = Lelystad.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = [[Brandmark]]
| blank_emblem_size  = 120px
}}

'''Lelystad''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈleːlistɑt|-|256 Lelystad.ogg}}) is a Dutch [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]] and the [[capital city]] of the [[province]] of [[Flevoland]] in the central [[Netherlands]]. The city, built on reclaimed land, was founded in 1967 and was named after [[Cornelis Lely]], who engineered the [[Afsluitdijk]] that made the reclamation possible. Lelystad is situated approximately three metres (10 feet) [[below sea level]].

==History==
Lelystad is built on the seabed of the former [[Zuiderzee]]. About 6,500 years ago, this wetland was above high tide level and inhabited; the Netherlands have steadily subsided since. Near Lelystad at [[Swifterbant]], the oldest [[human skeleton]]s in Western Europe were discovered. Due to [[Floods in the Netherlands|rising water levels and storms]], the [[peat]]lands were washed away, and the [[Lake Flevo|Lacus Flevo]] (in Roman times) grew to be the [[Almere (lake)|Almere]] (Middle Ages) and became the [[Zuiderzee]]. The Zuiderzee (Southern Sea) was the main transport route from [[Amsterdam]] to the [[North Sea]] and the [[Hanseatic League]] cities. Due to the many [[shipwreck]]s in Flevoland, Lelystad now houses the National Centre for Maritime [[History]], with a [[museum]] and the [[shipyard]] that has built the [[Batavia (1628 ship)|''Batavia'']] replica.

[[File:Lelystad sunset.jpg|thumb|left|Sunset over the IJsselmeer, bordering Lelystad]]

After the Second World War the [[Zuiderzee Works]] continued, constructing the [[polder]] of Eastern Flevoland. In 1950 work commenced on several construction islands in the middle of the [[IJsselmeer]]. ''Lelystad-Haven'' was the largest island, and its wooden barracks housed a community of dyke-builders. In 1955 they reached the mainland, which made it possible to drive to Lelystad by car. One of the three [[pumping station]]s, which drained the polder in June 1957, was the diesel-powered ''Wortman'' in Lelystad-Haven. Until 1967 the only inhabitants of Lelystad were technical [[engineer]]s and [[laborer]]s and superintendents, living on the former construction island.

==Demographics==

=== Ethnic composition ===
Source:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-06-01 |title=Gemeente Lelystad in cijfers en grafieken (update 2023!) |url=https://allecijfers.nl/gemeente/lelystad/ |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=AlleCijfers.nl |language=nl-NL}}</ref>
*65% of the population was of Dutch background (two parents born in [[Netherlands|the Netherlands]])
*23% was of non-Western [[migration background]] (one or two parents born in a non-[[Western civilization|Western]] country)
*12% was of Western [[migration background]] (one or two parents born in a Western country)

Lelystad has a large population of [[Suriname|Surinamese]] origin (5,225); most residents of a non-Western background live in the east of the city.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2022-12-27 |title=Ranglijst: autochtoon en migratieachtergrond van de inwoners per wijk in de gemeente Lelystad (update 2023!)|url=https://allecijfers.nl/ranglijst/autochtoon-en-migratieachtergrond-per-wijk-in-de-gemeente-lelystad/ |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=AlleCijfers.nl |language=nl-NL}}</ref> Lelystad also has significant  [[Moroccans in the Netherlands|Moroccan]] (2,615) and [[Turks in the Netherlands|Turkish]] (2,278) communities, most of whom reside in the northeastern part of the city.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> There were 2,059 residents with an Antillean background.<ref name=":0" />

==Climate==
{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Lelystad (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1990−present)
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|collapsed = Y
|Jan record high C = 14.3
|Feb record high C = 18.8
|Mar record high C = 23.2
|Apr record high C = 29.6
|May record high C = 32.2
|Jun record high C = 33.1
|Jul record high C = 37.5
|Aug record high C = 34.7
|Sep record high C = 32.0
|Oct record high C = 26.0
|Nov record high C = 19.9
|Dec record high C = 14.6
|Jan record low C = -16.6
|Feb record low C = -22.9
|Mar record low C = -17.8
|Apr record low C = -6.4
|May record low C = -1.6
|Jun record low C = 1.8
|Jul record low C = 5.0
|Aug record low C = 4.2
|Sep record low C = 2.4
|Oct record low C = -4.8
|Nov record low C = -8.3
|Dec record low C = -16.9
|Jan high C = 5.7
|Feb high C = 6.5
|Mar high C = 10.0
|Apr high C = 14.4
|May high C = 18.0
|Jun high C = 20.4
|Jul high C = 22.6
|Aug high C = 22.5
|Sep high C = 19.1
|Oct high C = 14.4
|Nov high C = 9.5
|Dec high C = 6.2
|year high C = 14.1
|Jan mean C = 3.2
|Feb mean C = 3.5
|Mar mean C = 6.0
|Apr mean C = 9.5
|May mean C = 13.2
|Jun mean C = 15.8
|Jul mean C = 17.8
|Aug mean C = 17.6
|Sep mean C = 14.6
|Oct mean C = 10.7
|Nov mean C = 6.8
|Dec mean C = 3.9
|year mean C = 10.2
|Jan low C = 0.6
|Feb low C = 0.4
|Mar low C = 2.0
|Apr low C = 4.3
|May low C = 8.0
|Jun low C = 10.8
|Jul low C = 12.7
|Aug low C = 12.4
|Sep low C = 10.1
|Oct low C = 6.9
|Nov low C = 3.9
|Dec low C = 1.4
|year low C = 6.1
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 67.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 57.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 55.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 42.3
|May precipitation mm = 57.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 67.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 91.4
|Aug precipitation mm = 92.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 74.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 76.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 69.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 73.9
|year precipitation mm = 824.1
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 
|Feb precipitation days = 
|Mar precipitation days = 
|Apr precipitation days = 
|May precipitation days = 
|Jun precipitation days = 
|Jul precipitation days = 
|Aug precipitation days = 
|Sep precipitation days = 
|Oct precipitation days = 
|Nov precipitation days = 
|Dec precipitation days = 
|Jan snow cm = 
|Feb snow cm = 
|Mar snow cm = 
|Apr snow cm = 
|May snow cm = 
|Jun snow cm = 
|Jul snow cm = 
|Aug snow cm = 
|Sep snow cm = 
|Oct snow cm = 
|Nov snow cm = 
|Dec snow cm = 
|year snow cm = 
|unit snow days = 1 cm
|Jan snow days = 
|Feb snow days = 
|Mar snow days = 
|Apr snow days = 
|May snow days = 
|Jun snow days = 
|Jul snow days = 
|Aug snow days = 
|Sep snow days = 
|Oct snow days = 
|Nov snow days = 
|Dec snow days = 
|Jan humidity = 88.9
|Feb humidity = 86.5
|Mar humidity = 82.0
|Apr humidity = 76.1
|May humidity = 75.3
|Jun humidity = 78.0
|Jul humidity = 79.6
|Aug humidity = 80.8
|Sep humidity = 84.4
|Oct humidity = 87.3
|Nov humidity = 90.4
|Dec humidity = 90.5
|year humidity = 83.3
|Jan sun = 66.6
|Feb sun = 95.6
|Mar sun = 146.2
|Apr sun = 194.5
|May sun = 227.1
|Jun sun = 213.3
|Jul sun = 222.5
|Aug sun = 200.9
|Sep sun = 156.6
|Oct sun = 122.0
|Nov sun = 68.8
|Dec sun = 57.0
|year sun = 1771.1
|Jan percentsun = 25.9
|Feb percentsun = 34.1
|Mar percentsun = 39.4
|Apr percentsun = 46.6
|May percentsun = 46.6
|Jun percentsun = 42.5
|Jul percentsun = 44.1
|Aug percentsun = 44.0
|Sep percentsun = 41.0
|Oct percentsun = 36.9
|Nov percentsun = 26.0
|Dec percentsun = 23.7
|year percentsun =37.6
|source 1 = [[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://weerstatistieken.nl/lelystad
| title = Weerstatistieken Lelystad
| publisher = [[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]]
| access-date = June 24, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.knmi.nl/klimaat-viewer/grafieken-tabellen/meteorologische-stations/stations-maand/stations-maand_1991-2020
|title=Klimaatviewer 1991-2020
| publisher = [[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]]
| access-date = June 24, 2022}}</ref>}}

==Landscape==
[[File:Lelystad-plaats-OpenTopo.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|Dutch topographic map of Lelystad (city), March 2014]]
Lelystad is the largest municipality in the Netherlands in area, but a large part of that area is water: [[Markermeer]] and [[IJsselmeer]]. Another major area is the internationally famous nature park of [[Oostvaardersplassen]], which arose naturally when the polder of South Flevoland was drained. Lelystad is also surrounded by a square of woodlands and parks and flat farmland. The importance of the landscape and sky is emphasized by several pieces of [[land art]]: engineers' work and works such as the ''Observatorium'' by Robert Morris (see below).

The artificial islands of [[Marker Wadden]] lie immediately to the northwest of Lelystad. Construction started in 2016, and the first islands have already become important wildlife sites, with many species of birds coming to the islands during the breeding season.

==Tourism==
Lelystad has several tourist attractions, including:
* The replica of the 17th-century ship ''[[Batavia (1628 ship)|Batavia]]'' at the Batavia Shipyard
* [[Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet]]
* Hanzestad Compagnie, a fleet of historical sailing ships
* Lelystad Nature Park
* [[Aviodrome|National Aviation Theme Park Aviodrome]]
* Modern architecture, for example the [[Zilverparkkade]] and Agora Theatre

Lelystad hosts many one-day events like the Lelystad Airshow, the Water Festival, the National Old Timer Day, Lelystad Speedway, Architecture day and several sports events. On the Midland Circuit many [[auto racing|motor]], [[kart racing|kart]] and [[stock car racing]] events and several autoclub meetings are held. On the coast there are several marinas.

==Transport==
[[File:Lelystad Railway Bus Station.jpg|thumb|[[Lelystad Centrum railway station]]]]
Lelystad can be reached by air, water, and land.

===Air===
[[Lelystad Airport]] is the biggest [[general aviation]] airport in the Netherlands. It is owned wholly by [[Schiphol Group]]. Lelystad Airport has undergone major expansion, including the construction of a passenger terminal for commercial flights, as well as an extension of the runway. The original plan for this airport was to become the main gateway for passengers into the country, to alleviate some of the pressure from Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. In turn, Schiphol would be able to focus on its role as international hub for lay-overs. Although the expansion of Lelystad Airport has been finished, the airport has not yet opened for passengers due to various political reasons. As of 2022, the government has decided to delay the opening of the terminals with at least two years, and even then the opening will not be guaranteed.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Kabinet stelt besluit opening Lelystad Airport met twee jaar uit| work = [[Algemeen Dagblad]]| access-date = 2023-11-18| date = 2022-06-23| url = https://www.ad.nl/politiek/kabinet-stelt-besluit-opening-lelystad-airport-met-twee-jaar-uit~ae1b4910/| language = nl}}</ref>

===Water===
Lelystad has a small inland [[port]], several [[marina]]s, and a canal system which also functions to aid in managing the water levels in the rest of the [[polder]]. The canal system connects to the [[Markermeer]] with a [[Lock (water navigation)|lock]] to the southwest of Lelystad, and connects the city and its industrial areas to all other towns and their respective industrial areas in the polder.

===Rail===
the [[Weesp–Lelystad railway]] (''Flevolijn'') extends south from [[Lelystad Centrum railway station]] and connects the city with [[Almere]], and to the [[Randstad]] region beyond. The [[Lelystad–Zwolle railway]] (''Hanzelijn'') extends north from Lelystad and connects it with [[Dronten]], [[Kampen, Overijssel|Kampen]] and [[Zwolle]].

===Motorway===
The [[A6 motorway (Netherlands)|A6 motorway]] runs along Lelystad on the eastern side of the city. There are three on-ramps connecting this motorway to Lelystad, allowing traffic to travel northbound to [[Emmeloord]] and the province of [[Friesland]], or southbound to [[Almere]] and the [[Randstad]] region.

===Provincial roads===
The N302 provincial road connects Lelystad to the south-east with [[Harderwijk]] and the province of [[Gelderland]] beyond. The N307 connects Lelystad across the [[Houtribdijk]] to [[Enkhuizen]] and the province of [[North Holland]] beyond, and to [[Dronten]] and beyond that to [[Kampen, Overijssel|Kampen]] in the province of [[Overijssel]]. The N309 connects Lelystad to Dronten and beyond that to [[Elburg]] in the province of [[Gelderland]].

==Shield and flag==
The honeycomb grid in the arms of Lelystad represents the [[dyke (construction)|dykes]], built with six-edged concrete or basalt blocks. The colour gold indicates the high costs of the project of making the [[polder]]. The centre shield is the arms of [[engineer]] [[Cornelis Lely]]. The sealions reflect the history of the land.

In the flag, the [[fleur-de-lis]] ([[lily]]) again takes a central point, referring to the name Lely. The yellow background reflects the precious land, and the blue lines the dykes and waterways. The [[flag of Flevoland|flag of the province]] is similarly adorned with the fleur-de-lis to commemorate Lely.

==Notable residents==
[[File:BuenodeMesquita.jpg|140px|thumb|Bueno de Mesquita]]
* [[Abraham Bueno de Mesquita]] (1918–2005) comedian and actor<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0119215/  IMDb Database] retrieved 8 June 2019</ref>
* [[Nancy van Overveldt]] (1930–2015), artist
* [[Hans Gruijters]] (1931–2005), politician and journalist
* [[Hubert Fermina]] (1948–2022), nurse and politician
* [[Gylan Kain]] (1942–2024), American poet and playwright
* [[Michiel van Hulten]] (born 1969), former politician and [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] (1999–2004)
* [[Edsilia Rombley]] (born 1978), singer<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1488114/  IMDb Database] retrieved 8 June 2019</ref>
* [[Rianne ten Haken]] (born 1986), a Dutch model<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7826463/  IMDb Database] retrieved 8 June 2019</ref>

===Sport===
[[File:DaanBrandenburg.jpg|thumb|140px|Daan Brandenburg, 2009]]
* [[Co Stompé]] (born 1962), retired professional darts player
* [[Aron Winter]] (born 1967), retired footballer and football manager
* [[Ivan Sokolov (chess player)|Ivan Sokolov]] (born 1968), Dutch-Bosnian chess grandmaster
* [[Chiel Warners]] (born 1978), former decathlete
* [[Charles Zwolsman Jr.]] (born 1979), racing car driver
* [[Karin Ruckstuhl]] (born 1980), former heptathlete
* [[Guido van der Valk]] (born 1980), professional golfer
* [[Ruben Schaken]] (born 1982), football player
* [[Niels de Ruiter]] (born 1983), former darts player, current director of the Dutch Darts Federation
* [[Thijs van Valkengoed]] (born 1983), breaststroke swimmer, competed at the [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004]] and the [[2008 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Boy Waterman]] (born 1984), football goalkeeper
* [[Daan Brandenburg]] (born 1987), chess grandmaster 
* [[Nathaniël Will]] (born 1989), footballer
* [[Benjamin Bok]] (born 1995), chess grandmaster
* [[Alex Vlaar]] (born 1996), Dutch-Bulgarian badminton player
* [[Devyne Rensch]] (born 2003), football player for [[AFC Ajax]] and the [[Netherlands national football team]]

==Twin city==
Lelystad maintains [[international relations]] with the Suriname [[Town twinning|twin city]] of [[Lelydorp]].

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{wikivoyage-inline|Lelystad}}
*[http://www.lelystad.nl Official website]

<!--Please note that not all directions need to be filled-->
{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Lelystad
|North     = ''[[IJsselmeer]]''
|East      = [[Dronten]]
|South     = [[Zeewolde]]
|Southwest = [[Almere]]
|West      = ''[[Markermeer]]''
}}
{{Flevoland Province}}
{{Dutch capital cities}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lelystad| ]]
[[Category:Cities in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Flevoland]]
[[Category:Populated places in Flevoland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1967]]
[[Category:Provincial capitals of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:1967 establishments in the Netherlands]]