"Lelystad - Flevoland" Lelystad by Churchill34

The history of Flevoland goes a long way back. About 6500 years ago there lived people in this area in settlements, on high sand-hills. Near the village Swifterbant in the East of Flevoland they even found the oldest skeletons of entire West-Europe. A Romaine history-writer came up with the name Flevo, which they meant the North Rijnmond with. Because of the big difference between ebb and flood more and more peaces of land disappeared under the water. At the end of the 13th century the large Zuider Zee was created. A lot of land en villages disappeared under the water, only a few hills remained above the water. De people who lived on Urk and on the island hills Emmeloord and Ens, later known by the name Schokland, fought a heavy battle against the slamming waves of the sea. But Schokland sunk more and more into the deepness and became smaller and smaller, so de inhabitants had to leave, halfway the 19th century de island hills. The Zuider Zee was in the Golden Century an important travel-way for the famous VOC-ships and a way of income for fishers. But the Zuider Zee also was a dangerous sea full off shallows and treacherous streams, where a lot of ships were wrecked.

Because the heavy storms and inundations there was a lot of damage, Henric Stevin came with a plan to make an end of the violence and poison of the North Sea. This was in the 17th century. After 1850 a few different propositions where made, with the goal to make an end of the treacherous Zuider Zee. In 1918 the plan off dr. Ir. Cornelis Lely became a fact, the plan to lock of the Zuider Zee en to partly reclaim. The youngest province of the Netherlands would change from a wild sea in the flat polder-country. The previous islands Urk en Schokland became a part of the mainland. The Netherlands made world fame with the draining - the polder model as it is. Where once the Zuider Zee and later the IJsselmeer where, was made after the reclamation a whole new landscape with bolt upright roads, modern towns and villages on an equal distance of each other. Even the nature was made according a plan: the woods and nature parks were meant mainly as a recreation area for the human. Meanwhile the nature saves itself. The youngest planting has grown to wide, mature wood-areas and at the westside the Oostvaardersplassen has developed to a bird reservation of unknown wealth. In the extensive Natuurpark Lelystad it seems like al wild animals live in the free nature. Who walks or cycles through this area, will be surprised of how much there is to see. Because of this surprising difference of nature, you wouldn't say that it was such a short while a got hat the polder has been drain.

Shopping

Lelystad is also a city where there is plenty to do. Next to the beautiful nature, as the Oostvaardersplassen and the Natuurpark Lelystad, a visit to one of the many musea, the Batavia-Werf or OutLetShopping Batavia-Stad is a nice thing to do. In Lelystad you will find also four yacht docks, several camping's, a youth-hostel and the beautiful hotel Mercure, in the centre of Lelystad. In the nearby fishing-village Urk you can take a look in the history of the fishers. And in the 'new' town of Almere you can admire the modern and unique architecture-projects. Most of the new build houses in this city are worth your while. In Biddinghuizen there is the nice and famous attraction-park Six Flags Holland, where you easily can spend the whole day with only adults, kids or the whole family. In a word: in Flevoland there is history and future, for everyone something to do, and for young and old.

More Shopping

Batavia Stad Outlet Shopping is the first Outlet Shopping Centre off The Netherlands Here you can shop and profit by discounts of 30 tot 70% on the best brands. In more than 70 shops you will find, next to clothing of international brands, also service, gifts, DVD's, etc. Also you can visit the nice restaurants or visit the nearby Bataviawerf. Batavia Stad outlet shopping is a little village, full of special architecture in a unique environment, just on the coast of Lelystad.
· Days of opening : seven days a week
· Times of opening: from 10.00 till 18.00 o'clock (different opening times on national holidays)
· Prices: no entrance price
· Attainability: you can easily reach the museum by car, bus or over the water.
· Route-description by car auto: from the highroad A6 you take the abatement 'Lelystad' of 'Lelystad-Noord'. Then you can follow the signs 'Batavia Stad'.
· Parking : free, plenty spaces
· Sights in the area : BataviaWerf, Nieuw Land Erfgoedcentrum & the NISA

• Pros:Fresh Air
• Cons:No comments