Expatica: Almere - The Netherlands: a new suburbia - by Becky Russell

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Almere - The Netherlands: a new suburbia-by Becky Russell

Almere was built on reclaimed land to the northeast of Amsterdam during the early seventies. Its ambitious planners envisioned a suburban living environment for commuters to the nearby capital Amsterdam, Schiphol and Het Gooi.

Currently, over 165,000 people live in Almere — one of the fastest growing cities in the Netherlands. The Dutch government recently announced plans for it to become the fourth largest Dutch city, housing up to 400,000 inhabitants. Although roughly a quarter of Almere’s citizens originate from outside the Netherlands, only 5 percent are from a Western European or American background. Many expats come to the Netherlands to experience the stereotypical aspects of Dutch life found in a city like Amsterdam – the canals, the museums, the nightlife – and these elements are decidedly not what can be found in Almere. In fact, many residents liken its atmosphere to that of suburban America.

"Those unfamiliar with Almere are of the impression that it is a boring town with no atmosphere. Empty polder land filled with ugly new buildings,” says Melissa Bredow from Stichting Stadspromotie Almere (Foundation for the Promotion of Almere). "But everyone who comes is surprised by what they find — its central location with lots of space and nature. People are proud to live here, something you can tell by the amount of people moving to Almere. It's a great place to live!" The suburban quality of life is Almere’s greatest strength. According to the local government, on average there are 420 dwellings per square kilometre in Almere, compared with 1,930 dwellings per square kilometre in the four biggest cities in the Netherlands (Amsterdam, population 734,000; Rotterdam, 592,000; The Hague, 442,000 and Utrecht, 256,000).

Almere is viewed throughout Europe as a leading example of a successful "new" city, but expats should not expect to find a cosy old-style atmosphere or "traditional" Dutch environment there. Almere offers an alternative and more modern experience, and has a great deal to offer expats seeking a suburban lifestyle in a central location.