Page 335 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

FLE VOLAND  333

q Zeewolde
Road Map C3. * 19,400. @
n Raadhuisstraat 1 (036-5221405).
( Fri.
With its picturesque marina, this
village on the Wolderwijd coastal
lake is a popular recreational spot.
Zeewolde is the youngest town
in Flevo land, having officially
become a municipality in 1984.
Its youth is evident from the
imaginative architecture, partic-
ularly that of the town hall, library
and church. An enjoyable 7-km
(4-mile) walking route has been
laid out in and around Zeewolde,
with landscape art along the Almere, a laboratory for modern architects
way (for information, call De
Verbeelding, 036-5227037). earlier. Almere today consists of Environs
three centres: Almere-Stad, which Near Almere are many
Environs is undergoing major renovation recre ation areas and nature
South of Zeewolde is the and is where all the facilities are; reserves: the Weerwater;
Horsterwold, which is the Almere-Buiten, which is a green the Leegwaterplas lake; the
largest deciduous forest in suburb; and Almere-Haven, with Beginbos forest, with walking,
Western Europe. its lovely marina. If you are cycling and bridleways; the
interested in modern and unusual Buitenhout; the Kromslootpark,
architecture, the districts to visit with its pold er vegetation;
w Almere are Muziewijk, Filmwijk and the lakes of Noorderplassen;
Stedenwijk in Almere-Stad, and Lepelaars plassen, where rare
Road Map C3. * 176,000. @ £
n De Diagonaal 199 (036-5485041). the colourful Regenboogbuurt wading birds occur; and the
( Wed & Sat (Almere-Stad), Thu (rainbow neighbourhood) in Oostvaardersplassen.
(Almere-Buiten), Fri (Almere-Haven). Almere-Buiten. Also worth a
visit are the town hall, and the ACHK – De Paviljoens
Almere is Holland’s fastest- Almeers Centrum Hedendaagse Odeonstraat 3–5.
growing town. Its name recalls Kunst ACHK – De Paviljoens Tel 036-5450400. Open noon–5pm
the 8th-century name for the (Almere centre for modern art), Wed–Sun (to 9pm Thu & Fri).
Zuiderzee. The earliest signs of with works by late 20th-century Closed 1 Jan, 25 Dec.
habitation date from 65 centuries Dutch and foreign artists. & =
Landscape Art
In the countryside around Flevoland
you will come across unusual and
distinctive works of “landscape art”. These
are associated with various features of
the landscape. East of Almere-Haven, for
instance, is the Groene Kathedraal (Green
Cathedral) (top photo), designed by
Marinus Boezem and consisting of 178
Lombardy poplars planted to re-create
the outline and pillars of Reims Cathedral.
The Observatorium Robert Morris (bottom
photo) consists of two round earth
embankments, with three notches in
them from which the sunrise can be
observed when the seasons change.
On the Ketelmeerdijk, you will find Cyriel
Lixenberg’s Wachters op de Dijk (Watchmen
on the Dyke), consisting of a circle, a
triangle and a square. Piet Slegers’ Aardzee
(Earth Sea), situated between Zeewolde and
Lelystad, consists of a series of elongated
artificial ridges resembling waves.

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