54-526: Flevoland ( Dutch pronunciation: [ˈfleːvoːlɑnt] ) is the twelfth and newest province of the Netherlands , established in 1986, when the southern and eastern Flevopolders , together with the Noordoostpolder , were merged into one provincial entity. It is in the centre of the country in the former Zuiderzee , which was turned into the freshwater IJsselmeer by the closure of
108-678: A medieval county or duchy , as can the provinces of regions in Belgium . Their status changed when they came under a single ruler who centralised their administration, reducing their powers. There were 17 in total: from these unified Netherlands, seven northern provinces from 1588 formed the Republic of the Seven United Provinces , namely Holland , Zeeland , Gelderland , Utrecht , Friesland , Overijssel and Groningen . The Republic's lands also included Drenthe (one of
162-493: A medieval county or duchy , as can the provinces of regions in Belgium . Their status changed when they came under a single ruler who centralised their administration, reducing their powers. There were 17 in total: from these unified Netherlands, seven northern provinces from 1588 formed the Republic of the Seven United Provinces , namely Holland , Zeeland , Gelderland , Utrecht , Friesland , Overijssel and Groningen . The Republic's lands also included Drenthe (one of
216-621: A dividing dike in the middle, the Knardijk , that will keep one polder safe if the other is flooded. The two main drainage canals that traverse the dike can be closed by floodgates in such an event. The pumping stations are the Wortman ( diesel powered) at Lelystad-Haven, the Lovink near Harderwijk on the eastern dike and the Colijn (both electrically powered) along the northern dike beside
270-507: A high degree of autonomy , cooperating with each other mainly on defense and foreign relations, but otherwise keeping to their own affairs. On 1 January 1796, under the Batavian Republic , Drenthe and Staats-Brabant became the eighth and ninth provinces of the Netherlands. The latter, which had been known as Bataafs Brabant (English: Batavian Brabant), changed its name to Noord-Brabant, North Brabant, in 1815 when it became part of
324-440: A high degree of autonomy , cooperating with each other mainly on defense and foreign relations, but otherwise keeping to their own affairs. On 1 January 1796, under the Batavian Republic , Drenthe and Staats-Brabant became the eighth and ninth provinces of the Netherlands. The latter, which had been known as Bataafs Brabant (English: Batavian Brabant), changed its name to Noord-Brabant, North Brabant, in 1815 when it became part of
378-751: A hundred municipalities, was sold for around 9.3 billion euros. The constituent country of the Netherlands , being the largest part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands , is divided into twelve provinces ( provincies in Dutch ) and three overseas special municipalities; Bonaire , Sint Eustatius , and Saba in the Caribbean Netherlands that are not part of any province. Previously these were part of public bodies ( openbare lichamen ). Nearly all Dutch provinces can trace their origin to
432-537: A large extent, the provinces of the Netherlands are financed by the national government. Also, provinces have income from a part of the Vehicle Excise Duty . Several provinces have made a large profit in the past from privatising utility companies originally owned or partly owned by the provinces. Essent , which was originally owned by six provinces and more than a hundred municipalities, was sold for around 9.3 billion euros. The constituent country of
486-464: A population of about 445,000 as of January 2023 and consists of six municipalities . Its capital is Lelystad and its most populous city is Almere , which forms part of the Randstad and has grown to become the seventh largest city of the country. Flevoland is bordered in the extreme north by Friesland , in the northeast by Overijssel , and in the northwest by the lakes Markermeer and IJsselmeer. In
540-610: A regional party, both won 1 seat each. The gross domestic product (GDP) of the province was €14 billion in 2018, accounting for 1.8% of the Netherlands' economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was €29,500 or 98% of the EU27 average in the same year. The Flevopolder is served by the Flevolijn , running from Weesp to Lelystad, and the Hanzelijn , continuing from Lelystad towards Zwolle. The two railways stations of
594-482: A source of renewable energy . Eastern Flevoland ( Oostelijk Flevoland or Oost-Flevoland ) and Southern Flevoland ( Zuidelijk Flevoland or Zuid-Flevoland ), unlike the Noordoostpolder , have broad channel between them and the mainland: the Veluwemeer and Gooimeer , respectively, making them, together, the world's largest artificial island . They are two polders with a joint hydrological infrastructure, with
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#1732772531037648-539: A total population of 444,701 and a population density of 315/km (820/sq mi). It is the 2nd least populous province of the Netherlands , with only Zeeland having fewer people. The city of Almere is the most populous municipality in the province. Religion in Flevoland (2015) In 2015, 15.5% of the population belonged to the Protestant Church in the Netherlands while 12.3% was Roman Catholic , 7.2%
702-443: Is South Holland , with just over 3.8 million inhabitants as of January 2023 , and also the most densely populated province with 1,410/km (3,700/sq mi). With 391,124 inhabitants, Zeeland has the smallest population. However Drenthe is the least densely populated province with 191/km (490/sq mi). In terms of area, Friesland is the largest province with a total area of 5,753 km (2,221 sq mi). If water
756-422: Is also found the only other settlement of the polder, Zeewolde (1984), again a more conventional town acting as the local centre. Zeewolde became a municipality at the same time as Almere, on 1 January 1984, which in the case of Zeewolde meant that the municipality existed before the town itself, with only farms in the surrounding land to be governed until the town started to grow. On 1 January 2023, Flevoland had
810-400: Is excluded, Gelderland is the largest province by land area at 4,960 km (1,915 sq mi). The province of Utrecht is the smallest with a total area of 1,560 km (602 sq mi), while Flevoland is the smallest by land area at 1,410 km (544 sq mi). In total about 10,000 people were employed by the provincial administrations in 2018. The provinces of
864-588: Is the smallest by land area at 1,410 km (544 sq mi). In total about 10,000 people were employed by the provincial administrations in 2018. The provinces of the Netherlands are joined in the Association of Provinces of the Netherlands (IPO). This organisation promotes the common interests of the provinces in the national government of the Netherlands in The Hague . The government of each province consists of three major parts: The members of
918-584: The Afsluitdijk in 1932. Almost all of the land belonging to Flevoland was reclaimed in the 1950s and 1960s while splitting the Markermeer and Bordering lakes from the IJsselmeer. As to dry land, it is the smallest province of the Netherlands at 1,410 km (540 sq mi), but not gross land as that includes much of the waters of the fresh water lakes (meres) mentioned. The province had
972-460: The Afsluitdijk was completed, which closed off the sea completely. The Zuiderzee was later divided into IJsselmeer ( mere at the end of the river IJssel ) and Markermeer , planned to be mostly drained to make the Markerwaard . The Markerwaard was never built due to post-War fiscal austerity . The first land reclaimed was the northeast polder ( Noordoostpolder ) in 1942. This took in
1026-474: The French revolutionary example, in an attempt to do away with the old semi-autonomous status of the provinces. They are listed below, with their capitals and the territory of the former provinces that they mostly incorporated: After only three years, following a coup d'état , the borders of the former provinces were restored, though not their autonomous status. They were now also called "departments" and Drenthe
1080-422: The French revolutionary example, in an attempt to do away with the old semi-autonomous status of the provinces. They are listed below, with their capitals and the territory of the former provinces that they mostly incorporated: After only three years, following a coup d'état , the borders of the former provinces were restored, though not their autonomous status. They were now also called "departments" and Drenthe
1134-577: The Ketelmeer . A new element in the design of Eastern Flevoland is the larger city Lelystad (1966), named after Cornelis Lely , the man who had played a crucial role in designing and realising the Zuiderzee Works. Other more conventional settlements already existed by then; Dronten , the major local town, was founded in 1962, followed by two smaller satellite villages, Swifterbant and Biddinghuizen , in 1963. These three were incorporated in
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#17327725310371188-424: The Netherlands representing the administrative layer between the national government and the local governments , with responsibility for matters of subnational or regional importance. The most populous province is South Holland , with just over 3.8 million inhabitants as of January 2023 , and also the most densely populated province with 1,410/km (3,700/sq mi). With 391,124 inhabitants, Zeeland has
1242-418: The Netherlands , being the largest part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands , is divided into twelve provinces ( provincies in Dutch ) and three overseas special municipalities; Bonaire , Sint Eustatius , and Saba in the Caribbean Netherlands that are not part of any province. Previously these were part of public bodies ( openbare lichamen ). Nearly all Dutch provinces can trace their origin to
1296-525: The United Kingdom of the Netherlands , which also contained (then) South Brabant, a province now in Belgium . This new unified state featured the provinces in their modern form, as non-autonomous subdivisions of the national state, and again numbering 17, though they were not all the same as the 16th century ones. In 1839, following the separation of Belgium, the province of Limburg was divided between
1350-408: The United Kingdom of the Netherlands , which also contained (then) South Brabant, a province now in Belgium . This new unified state featured the provinces in their modern form, as non-autonomous subdivisions of the national state, and again numbering 17, though they were not all the same as the 16th century ones. In 1839, following the separation of Belgium, the province of Limburg was divided between
1404-605: The 17, but without the autonomous status of the others), and parts of the Duchy of Brabant , Duchy of Limburg and County of Flanders , which were considered to be "conquered lands" and were governed directly by the States General , hence their name Generality Lands . They were called Staats-Brabant , Staats-Limburg and Staats-Vlaanderen , meaning "governed by the States General". Each of these "Netherlands" had
1458-427: The 17, but without the autonomous status of the others), and parts of the Duchy of Brabant , Duchy of Limburg and County of Flanders , which were considered to be "conquered lands" and were governed directly by the States General , hence their name Generality Lands . They were called Staats-Brabant , Staats-Limburg and Staats-Vlaanderen , meaning "governed by the States General". Each of these "Netherlands" had
1512-453: The Netherlands are joined in the Association of Provinces of the Netherlands (IPO). This organisation promotes the common interests of the provinces in the national government of the Netherlands in The Hague . The government of each province consists of three major parts: The members of the provincial council are elected every four years in direct elections. To a large extent, the same political parties are enlisted in these elections in
1566-471: The Netherlands finally did become fully part of France in 1810, the departments of the kingdom and their borders were largely maintained, with some joined. They were however nearly all renamed, again mainly after rivers, though the names differed from their Batavian counterparts. Following are their names and the modern day province they mostly correspond to: With the defeat and withdrawal of the French in 1813,
1620-418: The Netherlands finally did become fully part of France in 1810, the departments of the kingdom and their borders were largely maintained, with some joined. They were however nearly all renamed, again mainly after rivers, though the names differed from their Batavian counterparts. Following are their names and the modern day province they mostly correspond to: With the defeat and withdrawal of the French in 1813,
1674-415: The Netherlands have seven core tasks: To a large extent, the provinces of the Netherlands are financed by the national government. Also, provinces have income from a part of the Vehicle Excise Duty . Several provinces have made a large profit in the past from privatising utility companies originally owned or partly owned by the provinces. Essent , which was originally owned by six provinces and more than
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1728-555: The area into a nature park, of such importance that the new railway line was diverted. The recent decline in agricultural land use will in time make expanding natural land use possible, and connect the Oostvaardersplassen to the Veluwe . The centre of the polder most closely resembles the prewar polders in that it is almost exclusively agricultural. In contrast, the southeastern part is dominated by extensive forests. Here
1782-468: The cities with direct train connections to Flevoland are Amsterdam , Utrecht , The Hague , Zwolle , Groningen , Leeuwarden and Schiphol Airport . There is one airport in the province: Lelystad Airport . A second airport, Noordoostpolder Airport near Emmeloord , was closed in the late 1990s due to town expansion. Province of the Netherlands There are twelve provinces of
1836-596: The former small islands Urk and Schokland . It was at first added to the Province of Overijssel . In the southwest the Flevopolder – larger than the above – was then reclaimed; its northeastern half in 1957 and its southwestern half in 1968. A key feature of the latter is a narrow body of water kept at three metres below sea level along the former coastline, to stabilize the water table and prevent coastal towns from losing their waterfront and access to
1890-632: The largest party with 10 seats. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) is second largest with 4 seats, after which the Party for Freedom (PVV), Labour Party (PvdA) and Green Left ( Dutch : GroenLinks , GL) won 3 seats each. Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Democrats 66 (D66), Party for the Animals (PvdD), Socialist Party (SP), Christian Union (CU), Reformed Political Party (SGP), JA21 and Forum for Democracy (FVD) all won 2 seats each. 50PLUS and Strong Local Flevoland (SLP),
1944-419: The national elections. The chosen provincial legislators elect the members of the national Senate within three months after the provincial elections. The elections for the water boards take place on the same date as the provincial elections. The last provincial elections were held in 2023 . The next provincial elections are scheduled for 2027 . The provinces of the Netherlands have seven core tasks: To
1998-509: The national government was planning to merge the provinces Flevoland, North Holland and Utrecht into a single province Noordvleugelprovincie [ nl ] . Due to significant protest the plan was abandoned. Provinces of the Netherlands There are twelve provinces of the Netherlands representing the administrative layer between the national government and the local governments , with responsibility for matters of subnational or regional importance. The most populous province
2052-441: The new municipality of Dronten on 1 January 1972. Southern Flevoland has only one pumping station, the diesel-powered De Blocq van Kuffeler . Because of the hydrological union of the two Flevolands, it simply joins the other three in maintaining the water level of both polders. Almere relieves the housing shortage and increasing overcrowding on the old land. Its name is derived from the early medieval name for Lake Almere . Almere
2106-415: The old provinces and their names were re-established, Holland was reunited and East-Frisia went its separate way. The 17 provinces of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands were for a significant part based on the former French departments and their borders, in particular in what would later become Belgium. There is continuous discussion within the Netherlands about the future of the provinces. Before 2014,
2160-415: The old provinces and their names were re-established, Holland was reunited and East-Frisia went its separate way. The 17 provinces of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands were for a significant part based on the former French departments and their borders, in particular in what would later become Belgium. There is continuous discussion within the Netherlands about the future of the provinces. Before 2014,
2214-399: The province with intercity services are Almere Centrum and Lelystad Centrum . Furthermore, Lelystad Zuid is a planned railway station between Almere Oostvaarders and Lelystad Centrum. It has been partially constructed preceding the opening of the railway in 1988, but construction has been put on indefinite hold because of slower-than-expected development of the city of Lelystad. Amongst
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2268-530: The provincial council are elected every four years in direct elections. To a large extent, the same political parties are enlisted in these elections in the national elections. The chosen provincial legislators elect the members of the national Senate within three months after the provincial elections. The elections for the water boards take place on the same date as the provincial elections. The last provincial elections were held in 2023 . The next provincial elections are scheduled for 2027 . The provinces of
2322-617: The same origin. Between 790 and 1250, Lake Flevo became connected with the North Sea. As a result, a number of villages were swallowed by the sea. The newly created inland sea was called Almere. After a flood in 1916 , the decision was made to enclose and reclaim the Zuiderzee, an inland sea within the Netherlands, and thus the Zuiderzee Works started. Other sources indicate other times and reasons, but also agree that in 1932,
2376-469: The sea. Thus, the Flevopolder became an artificial island joined to the mainland by bridges. The municipalities on the three parts voted to become a province, shortly before this was effected in 1986. Since that time, Flevoland is the youngest of the 12 provinces of the Netherlands , having been granted this status in 1986. Its current sources of revenue are the cultivation of flowers, farming and tourism. In recent times, it has built many wind turbines as
2430-519: The slowly rising sea level, a number of lakes gradually developed in the Zuiderzee region, which eventually became contiguous. Pomponius wrote about this: "The northern branch of the Rhine extends to Lake Flevo, which encloses an island of the same name and then flows to the sea like a normal river." Other sources speak of Flevum, which means 'flow'. The process continued and gradually the Zuiderzee arose from this lake. The names "Flevoland" and "Vlieland" have
2484-461: The smallest population. However Drenthe is the least densely populated province with 191/km (490/sq mi). In terms of area, Friesland is the largest province with a total area of 5,753 km (2,221 sq mi). If water is excluded, Gelderland is the largest province by land area at 4,960 km (1,915 sq mi). The province of Utrecht is the smallest with a total area of 1,560 km (602 sq mi), while Flevoland
2538-533: The southeast, Almere-Hout in the east, and Almere-Poort in the West. In time, Almere-Pampus could be developed in the northwest, with possibly a new bridge over the IJmeer towards Amsterdam . The Oostvaardersplassen is a landscape of shallow pools, islets, and swamps. Originally, this low part of the new polder was destined to become an industrial area. Spontaneous settlement of interesting flora and fauna turned
2592-543: The southeast, the province borders on Gelderland ; in the southwest on Utrecht and North Holland . Outside urban areas, the land in Flevoland is predominantly used for agriculture . Flevoland was named after Lacus Flevo , a name recorded in Roman sources for a large inland lake at the southern end of the later-formed Zuiderzee; it was mentioned by the Roman geographer Pomponius Mela in his De Chorographia in 44 AD. Due to
2646-598: The two countries, each now having a province called Limburg. A year later, Holland, the largest and most populous of the Dutch provinces, was also split into two provinces, for a total of 11. The 12th province to be created was Flevoland , consisting almost entirely of reclaimed land , established on 1 January 1986. During the Batavian Republic, the Netherlands was from 1798 to 1801 completely reorganised into eight new departments, most named after rivers, inspired by
2700-478: The two countries, each now having a province called Limburg. A year later, Holland, the largest and most populous of the Dutch provinces, was also split into two provinces, for a total of 11. The 12th province to be created was Flevoland , consisting almost entirely of reclaimed land , established on 1 January 1986. During the Batavian Republic, the Netherlands was from 1798 to 1801 completely reorganised into eight new departments, most named after rivers, inspired by
2754-657: Was Muslim and 9.9% belonged to other churches or faiths. Over half (55.2%) of the population identified as non-religious. Since 2023, the King's Commissioner of Flevoland is Arjen Gerritsen [ nl ] , who is a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). The Provincial Council of Flevoland has 41 seats. At the provincial elections in March 2023 , the Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB) became
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#17327725310372808-484: Was added to Overijssel. In 1806 the Kingdom of Holland replaced the republic to further French interests. It was during this administration that Holland was first split in two, with the department of Amstelland to the north and that of Maasland to the south. East Frisia , then as now in Germany , was added to the kingdom as a department in 1807 and Drenthe split off again making a total of 11 departments. When
2862-430: Was added to Overijssel. In 1806 the Kingdom of Holland replaced the republic to further French interests. It was during this administration that Holland was first split in two, with the department of Amstelland to the north and that of Maasland to the south. East Frisia , then as now in Germany , was added to the kingdom as a department in 1807 and Drenthe split off again making a total of 11 departments. When
2916-502: Was to be divided into three major settlements initially; the first, Almere-Haven (1976) situated along the coast of the Gooimeer (one of the peripheral lakes), the second and largest was to fulfill the role of city centre as Almere-Stad (1980), and the third was Almere-Buiten (1984) to the northwest towards Lelystad. In 2003, the municipality made a new Structuurplan which started development of three new settlements: Overgooi in
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