City Centre Features

  • Municipality office Stadshuis Gemeente Almere

  • Main train station and bus hub Almere Centrum

  • Modern shopping center with 200+ shops

  • Apartements

  • Grote Markt square with restaurants and cafés

  • Belfort pedestrian square with restaurants and cafés

  • Kunstlinie for cultural and creative events

  • De Nieuwe Bibliotheek, modern city library

  • Almere city archive centre Stadsarchief

  • Cinema complex

  • Beach Stadstrand

  • Healthcare centres in neighbourhood

Neighbourhoods

Almere Stad is the largest and most central district of Almere, showcasing a striking modern city center that emerged from the collaborative vision of world-renowned architects including Rem Koolhaas and Réne van Zuuk, alongside other innovative architects who transformed this reclaimed land into a contemporary urban landscape. This architectural hub houses the main shopping areas, restaurants, cultural venues, and business district.

Check them out!

Local Connections

GETTING AROUND & TRANSPORTATION

  • Good bus connection to other Almere districts and neighbour

  • Frequent service during day, less in evenings

  • Main bus stops around the station and city centre

Train & Bus Connections

  • Amsterdam Central/Zuid: 20 minutes when on time

  • Utrecht: 45 min

  • The Hague: 1 hour

  • Schiphol Airport: Direct connection

  • Almere Centrum Station is right in the heart of Stad

  • Expect crowded trains during rush hour

From Almere Centrum Station

Useful Apps & Resources

Driving & Parking

Cycling

  • Easier than Amsterdam but busier than other Almere districts

  • City centre has paid parking zones

  • Free parking available in residential areas outside the centre

  • Shopping centre has underground paid parking

  • Rush hour traffic building up on main roads into the centre

  • Excellent bike paths connection to other districts and neighbourhoods in Almere

  • Several bike parkings at Almere Centrum station

  • Can get busy around shopping areas and schools

  • Bike rental available at VVV Tourist Office or OV-fiets near the station

What to Expect

LIFE IN THE CENTRE OF ALMERE

  • Most expensive area in Almere due to central location

  • Apartments near the station and city centre are pricier but convenient

  • Family homes further from centre offer better value

  • Parking usually included, but city centre apartments may charge extra. Please check with authorised office.

  • Some older housing from the 1980s mixed with newer developments

Housing & Living

  • High-rise apartments: Around the city center and station area

  • Terraced houses: Family neighborhoods in Stad West and East

  • Modern townhouses: Mid-range options throughout the district

  • Luxury developments: Newer builds near Weerwater and select areas

  • Social housing: Mixed throughout, some areas more concentrated

Housing Types

Neighbourhood

Living Reality

  • Near the center: Urban feel, convenient but can be noisy

  • Stad West: More family-oriented, quieter residential streets

  • Stad Oost: Mix of housing, closer to Weerwater lake

  • Waterfront areas: Premium locations with lake views

  • Convenient for commuting - walking distance to station and shopping centre

  • Can feel busier and more crowded than other Almere districts and neighbourhood

  • Some areas have typical "new city" feel - functional but lacks character

  • Potential noise from traffic and nightlife in central areas

Parks & Nature

ENJOY LIFE IN ALMERE STAD

Nature & Recreation

  • Right in the city center

  • Lumierestrand with cycling paths

  • Fantasiestrand

  • Water sports activities

  • Beautiful walking areas

Weerwater

EDUCATION

Schools in Almere Stad

Almere Stad has an excellent concentration of schools throughout its neighbourhoods. The blue markers show the wide variety of educational options available, from primary schools scattered across residential neighbourhoods like Filmwijk, Tussen de Vaarten, and Literatuurwijk, to secondary schools, special education, and international schools.

Most schools are within walking or cycling distance from residential areas, and the central location means easy access via public transport from the train station. Whether you're looking for Dutch schools to help your children integrate locally, or international options for a smoother transition, Almere Stad's educational landscape offers plenty of choices within a compact, well-planned area.