4 hours in New Land: outdoor art and architecture
Admire the cutting-edge architecture and incredible outdoor art dotted around The Netherland’s youngest province, starting with the stunning modern buildings of Almere. This 4-hour guide is the perfect starting point for getting to know the New Land region.
Admire Almere’s stunning modern buildings
Hop on a train to Almere to admire the stunning buildings of this relatively new city. Almere is famous for its outstanding modern architecture with extraordinary designs from leading architects such as Rem Koolhaas, Herman Hertzberger and Liesbeth van der Pol. Check out The Wave, a massive structure that mimics the motion of the water; the Rainbow District, where the homes bring a colourful brightness to the city; and dozens of private homes in unique designs.
Check out incredible murals and street art
Scattered around the apartment blocks, theatres such as the Kunstlinie Theatre and public squares in Almere, you’ll find some impressive street art created by local and international artists. In the city centre, you will find a permanent artwork by Kamp Seedorf, which serves as a meeting point for locals and a place for performances. Other highlights include the Ally Staircase and a large mural by Hugo Kaagman. Follow this walking route for more.
Tuck into quality seafood overlooking the water
Let the exquisite sea views and landscapes of Almere guide you to a dining experience inspired by nature. Restaurant Bakboord prides itself on freshly caught seafood and greens from its organic vegetable garden. The harbourside restaurant has long been considered one of the best in Flevoland and in 2015 received the Michelin Bib Gourmand: an award for exceptional food at moderate prices. Have a read of this guide to restaurants and bars in the area for more dining inspiration.
Follow an architecture cycling route
The best way to hop around Almere is to follow a cycling or walking route that takes in all of the city’s iconic buildings. Bikes can be rented at the VVV, where you will also be provided with unique ‘architecture routes’ that explain precisely what you are seeing. Alternatively, check out this cycle route, which will lead you from the city centre out towards the nature reserves of the Lepelaarsplassen and Oostvaardersplassen. On the way, you’ll see the eye-catching architecture of residential neighbourhoods, including the Regenboogbuurt (Rainbow Neighbourhood), Klein India (Little India) and the impressive Katterugwoningen (cat back houses).
Discover the world’s biggest concentration of Land Art
Flevoland is home to the world’s biggest concentration of Land Art – huge artworks made in, with and responding to the surrounding landscape. There are nine works by artists, including Anthony Gormley, Daniel Libeskind and Richard Serra. The pieces vary greatly: some refer directly to the surrounding nature and the (short) history of the land they’re in, while others are inspired precisely by how untouched and fresh the landscape is. Best of all, you can see several of them in a few hours on a guided tour or in your own car.
