A journey to Almere

In September, I traveled by train to Flevoland, the youngest province in the Netherlands, known for its tulip fields and as the home of the largest artificial island in the world. I was heading to Almere (known affectionately as “Ally” by the locals). It is the youngest city in the Netherlands, where families have now lived for three generations.

The entire region of Flevoland was built below sea level. After a devastating flood in 1916, the Dutch launched the ambitious Zuiderzee Works, a pioneering project that aimed to reclaim land from the sea and create a safer future. Reachable by Eurostar and one regional train, it was a great destination for a slow travel break.

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Alba Gil

Day 1

I waited in the Eurostar lounge on the morning of September 11 to meet the other travelers joining me on the Eurostar journey from London St. Pancras to Amsterdam Central, and onward to Almere for our three-day break. On board, we traveled in Eurostar Plus, enjoying wide, comfortable seats and an amazing lunch (I can't stop thinking about the coconut rice!).

Alba Gil

Arriving in Amsterdam in the afternoon, we took the regional train to Almere in 30 minutes.

Alba Gil

After the welcome dinner at the Van der Valk Hotel Almere, I enjoyed a brisk 30-minute swim, followed by a relaxing sauna session where I chatted with my fellow travelers about their experiences. It was the perfect way to end a long day of travel.

Day 2 

Waking up refreshed, I made my way downstairs to kick off the day with a hearty hotel buffet breakfast (nothing beats it!). I dug into yogurt and eggs with salmon to fuel up for the day ahead.

Visiting Almere, I didn’t just get to know this particular region; I also discovered so much about other parts of the Netherlands through the people I met there. With every person I talked to, I discovered new places that I'd love to visit, starting with Groningen, the second safest city in Europe (amazing for solo travelers). During the second week of December, sailboats anchor in the canal, decorated with Christmas lights, as part of the Christmas market. The city also has the biggest pub in Europe, De Drie Gezusters (The Three Sisters), which is now on my list of must-visits. 

I also met a fellow traveler from Gouda, who explained  that the city is not just famous for its cheese, but also for its long history of ceramics production. Nearby is the region where Van Gogh came from (I even got a little lesson on how his name should really be pronounced!). You can see his works in the Het Noordbrabants Museum in 's-Hertogenbosch, also known as Den Bosch. While there, you can take an electric boat tour through the Binnendieze, a network of medieval canals that run beneath and through the city. It's something you can’t do anywhere else in the world.

Alba Gil

In the evening, I took a 30-minute bus ride to the Batavialand Museum, where I had the privilege of attending their very first dinner event. The museum tells the incredible story of how generations of Dutch people have managed land and water. This is especially true in the region of Flevoland, which was once underwater. Thanks to one of the greatest hydraulic engineering projects in history, the Dutch literally turned a sea into land. I found it absolutely fascinating, and it’s a living example of how humans can reshape geography through technology and teamwork.

Alba Gil

The museum dinner featured seasonal ingredients from the Flevoland region, prepared by students from the local culinary school and the family-run Restaurant De Taveerne. It started with appetizers made with fresh local vegetables (my favorite without a doubt was the ginger soup). For the main course, I enjoyed a warming beef stew with mashed potatoes, followed by a dessert that I’m still dreaming about: buffalo milk ice cream with pumpkin pancake.

Day 3

On the third and final day, we spent the morning at Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet, where we rummaged through cases of retro jewelry and racks of alternative secondhand clothes. I came across some fantastic pieces, including a jacket crafted from two combined jackets and uniquely shaped glasses. The outlet was also home to lots of chocolate stores, and we were gifted homemade chocolates from ‘’Chco’’, which was a real treat.

Alba Gil

Next on the agenda was the New Land National Park, the largest man-made nature park in the world. At De Oostvaarders Nature Experience Center, we donned our binoculars to spot birds that are native to the region, like the reestablished white-tailed eagle, along with many migratory species. We also spotted bulls that are rewilded cattle; they may not be native, but they are essential for keeping the landscape balanced and alive.

Alba Gil

For lunch, we stopped at Paviljoen de Oostvaarders, which focuses on local produce, sustainable practices, and healthy dishes (like their delicious homemade leek and potato soup). Located inside the park, the restaurant offers panoramic views over the marshland and a terrace to enjoy in nice weather.  

Alba Gil

In the afternoon, we headed to the center of Almere for an architecture tour with our local guide. We were incredibly lucky with the weather as it had been raining for most of the day, but just as the tour started, the sun finally came out.  On the tour, we learned that the highest elevation in the region is nine meters, which was an intentional decision by the architect to give a bit of height to the city. Almere is like a “Disneyland” for architecture. Its city center, created by renowned architect Rem Koolhaas, serves as a testing ground for contemporary urban ideas. The city also runs a unique housing initiative that lets residents buy land and design their own homes instead of choosing from pre-built options.

Alba Gil

We finished up the day at the Leonardo Hotel Almere with a local beer tasting at the bar, complete with self-service taps and live music. The selection included home-brewed varieties ranging from rich chocolate notes to fruity IPAs and classic lagers. If I hadn't been booked on a return train, I’d have very happily bedded down in one of the hotel rooms overlooking the city. 

Alba Gil

Time to say bye 

After my final sip of beer, I said goodbye to the city of Almere and began my journey back to London by train. Once again, I took a regional train from Almere to Amsterdam Centraal, and then boarded the Eurostar to London St. Pancras.

Alba Gil

On the journey home, my fellow travelers and I shared life experiences and laughed so hard that my stomach hurt (Fun fact: 10 minutes of laughing is equivalent to an hour of exercise!). It’s one of my favorite memories from the trip and it was a beautiful reminder that travel isn’t just about the destination, it’s about the journey too.

Almere had a calm, grounded vibe that really stayed with me. People were friendly, laid-back, and genuinely seemed to enjoy life. I loved how they took pride in using local products. It made everything feel more personal and connected to the place. It reminded me to slow down a bit, to be more present and to appreciate the little things. 

Follow in Alba's footsteps on this journey to Flevoland, or check out our other Netherlands trips by train.

Read our Rotterdam city guide, or about how to pack for a train trip.