Flevoland

This old saying might sound a bit grandiose, but it’s spot-on in the case of Flevoland. This is new man-made land, where you can find evidence of it being created from a sea everywhere. Let’s begin with the most bizarre yet probably most overlooked fact: the whole place is around four metres below sea level. Pretty freaky to think about, right? But no need to worry, as the land is well-protected by its high dikes and its smart waterworks visible throughout the entire province.

Other than all the dikes, dams, and sluices, the landscape of Flevoland is defined by its spaciousness. Whether it’s the wide-open fields of the countryside or the beautiful nature area, the Oostvaardersplassen - Flevoland offers the much-needed space to breathe, play and unwind. Naturally, this attracts many people from all over the country to its capital city Lelystad and its most populous city, Almere. Build in the 60s and 70s; these are modern cities with wide streets, intelligent urban planning, and green suburbs - ideal circumstances for people who want to live in a central location but do not want the busyness of the Randstad.

When talking about Flevolands landscape, it’s impossible to forget about the tulips. As the countries largest area of tulip fields, Flevoland becomes possibly the prettiest province of the Netherlands in April and May. The colourful flowers are a real treat to your senses, and a trip to this country is not complete without doing the ‘tulip routes’ of the Flevo- or Noordoostpolder. 

The tulips are worth more than just their aesthetic value. The tulip bulbs that are consequently sold worldwide are an essential aspect of the economy of Flevoland. Tulips are part of the vital agricultural sector of the province. The region is known for its large-scale production and innovation in agrifood, offering jobs in engineering, ICT, logistics, and trade jobs. Moreover, Flevoland has a solid and diverse maritime sector, mainly thanks to the old fishing village of Urk, a former island of the Zuiderzee, which is currently an important distribution centre in fish. 

Being an essential hotspot for logistics and engineering, this province is always looking for innovative talent to help find smart solutions for the challenges of tomorrow. The ambition of Flevoland is high: it wants to become the leading supplier of sustainable resources in the circular economy from 2030 onwards. The province has the infrastructure to make this happen. Local entrepreneurs and significant businesses collaborate with the Aeres Hogeschool and Hogeschool Windesheim, its higher education institutions. Are you a pioneer at heart, and does the ambition of Flevoland speak to you? This young province might be exactly what you are looking for.