Flevoland

Flevoland is a province of the Netherlands located in the central part of the country. It is the youngest Dutch province, established on 1 January 1986 after land reclamation from the IJsselmeer as part of the Zuiderzeewerken. The province consists of two main polders: Noordoostpolder in the north and Flevopolder in the south, with the latter containing the majority of the province's towns. The provincial capital is Lelystad, while the largest city is Almere.

Geography and landscape: The land was created by diking and drainage works in the mid-20th century, turning former lake bed into farmland and urban areas. It is characterized by straight streets and planned town layouts. The Oostvaardersplassen, a large national nature reserve, lies within the province near Lelystad and is notable for its birdlife and free-roaming herbivores.

Municipal structure: The province comprises six municipalities: Almere, Dronten, Lelystad, Noordoostpolder, Urk, and Zeewolde. Emmeloord is the administrative center of Noordoostpolder.

Population and economy: As of the early 2020s, Flevoland is home to about 470,000 people. The economy is dominated by services in Almere and Lelystad, retail, and agriculture in Noordoostpolder. The region also has growing logistics and technology sectors, supported by its modern infrastructure and proximity to the Randstad.

Transportation and environment: The province is traversed by major roads, including the A6, and by the Houtribdijk, a dike connecting Lelystad with the North Holland mainland across the Markermeer. The area is known for water management engineering and planned urban development.